Synopses & Reviews
Westerners familiar with their forests may think they know the Douglas fir — but how well do they? Douglas firs are found in the continental northwest from British Columbia to as far south as Oaxaca, Mexico. They flourish in the Cascades, Rocky Mountains, Sierra, and other mountain ranges, as well as in desert valleys.
Incredibly hardy, this tree adopts various strategies to occupy more kinds of habitats than any other native tree, even becoming an uncontrollable invader in some regions, crowding out ponderosa pines, western larch, aspen groves, and mountain grasslands. Yet the utility of this noble species is immense. Douglas firs yield more high-quality construction lumber than any other tree in the world.
Most intriguing of all, perhaps, is that the story of the Douglas fir has gone untold. Douglas Fir fills this literary gap and presents an engaging profile of the Douglas fir and its relationship to people, commerce, culture, and wilderness.
Review
"Marshalling a wide range of botanical, ecological, historical, and cultural insights together, Douglas Fir contains powerful perspectives on an iconic tree." Kristen Rabe
Review
"Arno and Fielder have crafted an insightful and engaging paean to the Pacific Northwest's most important tree. This is a book for anyone who wants to understand not only the ecological story of Douglas-fir but also how these majestic trees shaped the economic story of Puget Sound and the entire region." David B. Williams, author of Too High and Too Steep: Reshaping Seattle's Topography
Review
"The Douglas fir literally and figuratively stands among the giants of Earth's trees and has played a pivotal role in shaping the landscape and culture of the American West. I can't imagine a better team than Arno and Fiedler to tell us its story — for the general reader and scientist alike — with vividness, clarity, insight, and deep scientific understanding." Peter Stark, author of Astoria: John Jacob Astor and Thomas Jefferson's Lost Pacific Empire
About the Author
Stephen F. Arno holds a PhD in forestry and plant science and is retired from a career as a research forester with the US Forest Service. Since 1973, he has authored or co-authored six books about forests and trees, including two Mountaineers Books titles, Northwest Trees and Timberline.
Carl E. Fiedler has a PhD in forestry and ecology and is a retired professor from the University of Montana. Steve and Carl have coauthored two previous books together. They reside in Missoula, Montana.