Synopses & Reviews
From well-loved oaks and pines to rare, spectacular species such as the snowbells of Japan, this lavishly illustrated work is an unparalleled guide to more than six hundred of the worldand#8217;s major forest and garden trees. An excellent resource for gardeners, botanists, and general readers alike,
The World of Trees is a tribute to natural beauty by a superb prose stylist, an essential reference, and a practical guide for gardening. Hugh Johnson illuminates his subject in thorough and loving detail: the structure and life cycle of trees, how trees are named, trees and the weather, the use of trees in gardens and landscape design, and tree planting and care. The heart of the volume is a compendium of coniferous and deciduous trees grouped by family, describing and illustrating important species and varieties. It also includes a guide to choosing trees for the garden and an A-Z listing of the most important and popular species and varieties.
The World of Trees is a completely revised edition of Hugh Johnsonand#8217;s classic International Book of Trees featuring new photographs, systematic illustrations of all key tree parts, and current listings for the newest varieties and cultivars
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and#8216;This lavish and soulful (now thatand#8217;s an excellent pairing!) book will have you dreaming of strawberry trees and dove trees and fringe trees. and#8220;
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and#8220;The equivalent of a course in arboriculture for the amateur gardener and landscape professional.and#8221;
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Combining gorgeous photography with friendly, authoritative writing. . . .A coffeetable book that will actually be read.and#8221;
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and#8220;Beautifully illustrated and#8211; a magnificent magnolia, romantic plane trees in Languedoc, larches in the Dolomites. Informative and opinionated text by Johnson. . . is just as enjoyable:and#8221;
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and#8220;Not just an excellent research resource but a breathtakingly beautiful tribute. And what a wide variety of trees! And what splendid global examples!and#8221;
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This compendium of more than 600 important trees is truly a celebration of the largest plant forms on earth.and#8221;
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“Informative book. . . . Highly recommended.” Toronto Globe and Mail
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and#8220;Informative book. . . . Highly recommended.and#8221;
Synopsis
"Hugh Johnson has traveled widely and delved deeply in quest of trees and tree lore and he writes without prejudice or inhibition, eager to share his vivid enjoyment and his remarkable understanding. If you start this book with a feeling for trees, I don't see how you can finish it without loving them."and#151;Sir George Taylor, former Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew
Synopsis
Civilization has long been rooted in trees.and#160; They have warmed hearths, framed boats for ocean voyaging and poles for fishing those waters, hardwoods have provided shelters, and the strength of weapons in warfare.and#160; Oaks were worshipped by Druids, redwoods were a critical part of Native American ritual, as baobabs are to African tribal life and the ginkgo is to Chinese myth.and#160; And yet in spite of, or because of, the strength and fortitude of trees, virgin forests the world over have been cleared for human consumption.and#160;
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In the wake of such change, in the spirited growth of heritage tree appreciation the world over, Hidden Natural Histories: Trees explains the traditional significance of 100 trees and describes their natural, culinary, medicinal, cosmetic, magical, and other properties. A combination of archival and original illustrations show tree forms and characters, and make for an easy navigation.and#160; One can either enjoy the whole forest with the trees, or tour the book one sentinel redwood at a time.
Synopsis
Behind the cedar aroma of fresh pencil shavings and the slightly bitter tang of orange in our marmalade are untold stories of human interactions with the natural world. Celebrating the human heritage of these and other natural phenomena, the new Hidden Natural Histories series offers fascinating insight into the cultivation and use of the bits of nature we take for granted in our daily lives. In Trees, noted garden writer Noel Kingsbury turns his penand#151;or penciland#151;to the leafy life-forms that have warmed our hearths, framed our boats for ocean voyaging, and provided us shade on summer afternoons. From the fortitude of the ancient gingko tree to artistic depictions of quince fruit in the ruins of Pompeii, Kingsbury explores the culinary, medicinal, cultural, and practical uses of a forest of tree species. Packed with informative and beautiful illustrationsand#151;both new and from historical archivesand#151;Trees will charm and enlighten anyone interested in our relationship with the natural world and will be a special delight for every gardener and chef.
About the Author
Noel Kingsbury is a best-selling horticulturalist and writer. He is the author of many books, including Designing with Plants, Natural Gardening in Small Spaces, andand#160;Gardening with Perennials: Lessons from Chicagoand#39;s Lurie Garden,and#160;as well as the coeditor of Vista: The Culture and Politics of Gardens.and#160;He lives and gardens in western England near the world-famous book town of Hay-on-Wye.