Saturday, September 5, 2009

In Search of Tree Books

As librarian of a "tree" place, it seems logical to get some tree reading done. This past month I've read Joan Maloof's Teaching the Trees: Lessons from the Forest. She writes short essays on different tree species linked to her experiences as an ecology instructor, tree lover, and forest preserver. Tree: A Life Story by leading naturalist David Suzuki is a readable, informative biography of a Douglas fir tree. Finally, there's Richard Preston's The Wild Trees. Preston's book is a fast, engaging account of the eccentric, dedicated scientists who study the unique hidden world in the canopy of redwood forests.

Any other titles to recommend? Please post your suggestions on this blog.

3 comments:

  1. Paul Spector, Director of Education, The Holden ArboretumSeptember 29, 2009 at 8:36 AM

    I found "The Wild Trees" to be a fascinating account of not only the incredible world of the redwood canopy ecosystem but of the contributions to science that can be made by individuals with a dedication to an interest that becomes a life-long passion.

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  2. The October 2009 issue of National Geographic as a great picture of a redwood tree on the cover. The inside story discusses the scientists who study these enormous trees. It is a good companion to the November 11 book "The Wild Trees."

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  3. The Wild Trees is pretty good a second time through too.

    The October 2009 Nat Geo magazine redwood picture that Sharon mentioned, is a nice addition to photography. Even the scientists cannot see that same view when they are climbing, and there is no distant view similar either. The cameras must have been lifted through a slim sliver in the canopy.

    I visited the same redwood recently, and there is only one spot with room to get all those images.

    MDV ~ Oregon

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