A Must Read For Shady Tree/Exprienced
347633
One of the best purchases I have made. I would reccomend this book to anyone who asks. It is written in such a way as to give you confidence as you read Thanks Again
4414016
I highly recommend this book to all outdoor enthusiasts.
449235
I have many shady areas under oaks and a magnolia tree and this book has helped me make the ground below look much better. Excellent condition and a joy to read.
4892385
Geoffrey Mehl has outdone himself. This book is one of the most comprehensive guides to local/native/sustainable landscaping in PA. Soil information, what plants/trees for what areas, light levels explained. It makes you want to take a walk outside just to look around and see  what you can identify - from plants to rock formations. Sections of PA are broken down into eco-communities; native plants are identified by Latin names, common names. An enormous undertaking. If you are serious about native plantings this is definitely a book you need.
856314
If you love trees, this book will provide a unique perspective -- on bark.  The wonderful photographs highlight the wide variety of tree bark types and patterns.  And it features some barks that are extraordinary.  Whether you are landscaping a lot or want another way to identify trees as you walk through the woods, I am sure you find this book fascinating.  It helped me find some new trees that I want to plant in my yard.  Now, I just have to find a nursery that carries them.
1164649
So many insights in this book! Start by planting trees, shrubs, grasses and flowers that are native to your region. They will attract insects into your yard that will eat, shelter and reproduce on/in these plants. THIS IS A GOOD THING! The book eloquently describes dozens of case studies of increased biodiversity in the presence of native (vs exotic or ornamental) plants. Walk with me on this:

1) Look out your window. See all those plants? Look at the grass, the ornamental shrubs, the boulevard trees. Can you eat any of that? There are thousands of green leafy plants out there, but only a very few that humans can eat, digest, and gain nutrients from.
2) Insects are the same way. The majority of insects we know are specialists, meaning that despite the abundance of green out there, most insects can only eat and digest a narrow range (think monarch caterpillars and milkweed). So our native bugs need native plants!
3) Birds eat insects. All birds. Yes, even hummingbirds. Even kestrels, our smallest falcons, dine on dragonflies.

I could go on, but just buy this book. Read it. Then pass it on. Do it because we need more people to need more nature. Do it not for your grandchildren, but for yourself. Do it because you can make tomorrow a latter day.

"The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago. The next best time is now." -Chinese proverb
SPOILER ALERT: That tree you're about to plant should be a burr oak (assuming this is native to your region)- they provide habitat for over 500 species of moths and butterflies.
3926093
This book really breaks down the different processes and techniques of growing in various locations.  More importantly, it teaches you to be active and not passive through all the stages.  He focuses more on experimenting and tweaking your current setup to maximize yields.  He briefly touches (half a chapter) on indoor hydroponic setups. This book would be most effective for someone trying to grow in soil outdoors. With that said, he explores different aspects that most gardeners would over look or dismiss as folklore.  Well worth the money for the silver bullets he has in it and also this isn't a " grow exactly like this and produce astronomical results."  This book lets you be in control of the garden and helps you to analyze what things should be left alone and which could/should be experimented with.
1278974
For those people who already kind of know their way around the forest, and are more interested in what they are going to see ASSOCIATED with the plants they see than what an Audobon book says, this is a naturalist's dream come true!
Great b/w illustrations of not only leaves and fruits, but insects, diseases, toothmarks, clawmarks and nests that can be found on and around the trees and plants listed in the book...
Also highly recommended is the Swamp and Bog book...
498709
"Have you ever wanted to help someone with something that you are really good at but they don't acknowledge your gifts? Have you watched them flounder and just wished that they would accept your help? This is how the trees feel. They just sit by and watch us struggle when they are so willing to help us. They have so much wisdom to share." The Wisdom of the Trees by Jen Ward
This is just one of the many exceprts that I read today that I loved from the new book. My daughters and I are loving reading stories outside with our tree friends! This morning one of my daughters found the book not where we left it! It was under one of our tree friends! I could have sworn we brought it in. I think the trees and all the nature spirits and faeries are enjoying reading the book as well. :) So many delighteful tree communications stories that kids would love to be read to about. They instanty know about these things, better than adults. It's been magic. <3
4616596
Who knew the Allegheny National Forest could be so interesting? Go with Hilliard on his exploits throughout the half-million acres of the Allegheny National Forest. You'll laugh, learn, and never be bored. Few people understand the diversity of this chunk of forest as Hilliard does. It's a creative guidebook, but one of the greater values of the book is the way Hilliard spells out the history of this national forest treasure and what distinguishes it from others. He doesnt make that history interesting, he reveals it as interesting. Great read!
3110328
Great book !!! Thank you Pastor Bob for your transparency, your strength, and your heart.  You are truly a blessing from the Lord.
But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,
whose confidence is in him.
They will be like a tree planted by the water
that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
and never fails to bear fruit.
Jeremiah 17:7-8
11858
The Hidden Life of Trees provides wonderful insight into the ways in which trees parallel our lives along with the similarities of experiences that they have as they strive to survive during a time when humans have very little understanding about them and how important they are. Peter Wohlleben has a real winner in this volume and its well worth reading.
2000722
My yard use to look like a jungle, after reading this book and follow the simple instructions I now really enjoy the view; even the birds  notice the difference. I am amazed and very happy with the results. Great book, simple and straight to the point.
2928205
Excellent book! I highly recommend. Elliman organizes the book in a unique way to make identifying plants easy and fun.
Great pictures too.
Definitely take this book on your next walk in the woods.
3809570
Ive always been drawn to real-life mysteries, so I found  The Tree: The Disappearance of the Stevens Family difficult to put down after Id started reading it. Here we have Troy and his family have moved to a secluded farmhouse surrounded by nothing by vast, barren fieldsexcept for a strange tree that stands in the middle of the field. But quickly, strange and macabre events begin to occur, forcing the family to discover the history of the tree and why it still remains. This is a short story and Im not a fan of spoilers, so Im not going to give away anything here. However, I will tell you that I was frightened after reading this. Davis writing prowess is impressive as he was able to create a feeling of unfolding dread. I became truly concerned for what might happen next to the little family. Plus, he was able to capture the Depression Era Kansas setting vividly. I highly recommend this story to anyone who loves a good, strong ghost story. Its a quick read, but an effective one.
4967273
Except for perhaps Hawaii and the most southerly points in the southernmost states, winter in America is harsh and long and dreary. Evergreen trees make a huge impact on a garden and the landscape...Sean Hogan does a magnificent job of trotting out the most ornamental and interesting trees that thrive in his Zone 7-8 mecca, but he does a GREAT job of holding out promise to those of us who live in colder zones (I am a denizen of Zone fivish). Who would have imagined there might be so many evergreen oaks, so many magnolias with wide latitude! I can't WAIT to find cold tolerant forms of Quercus chrysolepsis and a bevy of Mahonias I never suspected might pass muster: every page is a revelation and full of hard data and promise. It makes sense that most plants have a wide latitude in nature, and many have high elevation forms that make it possible to grow them far beyond their native ranges. Great pictures throughout, and wonderful layout: this is a book designed to last.

Sean has obviously been seeking these forms out for years, and his hard earned experience in Portland, California and Christmas Valley (a god forsaken spot I believe) makes this book invaluable. Not another one of those compendiums of hearsay, this is a treasure trove of hard data from a great designer and plant collector. Sean is a national treasure: buy and share this book!
1455697
This book is excellent for learning more about specific trees of the Great Lakes Region.  It goes into much more detail than any field guide will ever tell you.  The book spends 2 pages per tree, detailing the life history  characteristics and typical habitats that the trees will be found in.  I  particularly like the fact that for each tree you can see a photo of the  entire tree, as well as close ups of the bark and leaves (sometimes fruit  too).  The book provides satisfactory descriptions for identifying trees;  however, does not provide any way to "key out" trees, so you must  have some idea what you are looking at before you refer to the book.  As a  student in Ecology, I have found this book ten times more valuable than the  price; however, I found that I needed an additional field guide to key out  unknown trees in the field.