Taking up where field guides leave off, Trees of New England offers an engaging look at the natural history of the region's native and common nonnative tree species. From alder through hornbeam to witch-hazel, you'll learn how and when trees reproduce; how their physical structure protects them from the elements; and how diseases, insect pests, and environmental degradation are affecting trees today.

Noted naturalist Charles Fergus communicates his love for trees in every description and gentle detail, providing information on characteristics and physical makeup as well as personal anecdotes, notable cultural and historical tidbits, and full, rich descriptions of the interplay between trees and animals and trees and humans. Discover interesting and little-known facts such as:

The acorns of the white oak are less bitter-tasting than those of the red oak; some are sweet enough to eat without any preparation.

The wood of the sugar maple provides flooring that lasts longer than marble and is used for baseball bats said to propel the ball farther than white ash.

In colonial times, the British practice of reserving the tallest, straightest white pine trees for the Royal Navy fueled anti-British sentiment leading to the Revolutionary War.

Accompanying the splendidly written narrative are range maps for most species and beautiful line drawings of tree features for easy identification. Sit and savor this captivating book-it will enhance your appreciation of the majestic trees that populate our landscape.

A beautifully written natural history of the more than seventy tree species that grow in New England. Includes detailed illustrations and range maps.

Charles Fergus has written about nature and the outdoors for many magazines and newspapers, including Audubon, Country Journal, Science, and the New York Times. He is the author of fifteen books, including Thornapples, Wildlife of Pennsylvania and the Northeast A Hunter's Book of Days, and Summer at Little Lava named by Library Journal as one of the Best Sci-Tech Books of 1998. He lives with his wife and son in the Norhteast Kingdom of Vermont in an old farmhouse on 108 acres of land, 80 of which are forested.