The Tree Collectors: Tales of Arboreal Obsession

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Fifty vignettes of remarkable people whose lives have been transformed by their obsessive passion for trees — written and charmingly illustrated by the New York Times bestselling author of The Drunken Botanist

When Amy Stewart discovered a community of tree collectors, she expected to meet horticultural fanatics driven to plant every species of oak or maple. But she also discovered that the urge to collect trees springs from something deeper and more profound: a longing for community, a vision for the future, or a path to healing and reconciliation. In this slyly humorous, informative, often poignant volume, Stewart brings us captivating stories of people who spend their lives in pursuit of rare and wonderful trees and are transformed in the process. Vivian Keh has forged a connection to her Korean elders through her persimmon orchard. The former poet laureate W. S. Merwin planted a tree almost every day for more than three decades, until he had turned a barren estate into a palm sanctuary. And Joe Hamilton cultivates pines on land passed down to him by his once-enslaved great-grandfather, building a legacy for the future.

Stewart populates this lively compendium with her own hand-drawn watercolor portraits of these extraordinary people and their trees, interspersed with side trips to investigate famous tree collections, arboreal glossaries, and even tips for "unauthorized" forestry. This book is a stunning tribute to a devoted group of nature lovers making their lives — and the world — more beautiful, one tree at a time.

“The lighthearted character studies survey the diverse ways that humans relate to the natural world, and Stewart's tranquil watercolor illustrations charm. Readers will breeze through this.” Publishers Weekly

"I love everything Amy Stewart has ever created, but this book is my favorite yet. I'm giving this book to everyone I know. Because it, like its subject, is a gift." Elizabeth Gilbert, author of The City of Girls and The Signature of All Things

"These mesmerizing trees, and the inspiring people they've transformed, will alter your perspective and give you hope." Peter Wohlleben, author of The Hidden Life of Trees

"What a gift! The Tree Collectors takes us on a whirlwind planetary journey into the wondrously entangled life of people and plants. With this book, Amy Stewart shows us how we are all related to one another, through trees." Katie Holten, author of The Language of Trees

Amy Stewart is the New York Times bestselling author of The Drunken Botanist, Wicked Plants, and several other popular nonfiction titles about the natural world. She's also written seven novels in her beloved Kopp Sisters series, based on the true story of one of America's first female deputy sheriffs. She lives in Portland, Oregon.