"I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree."
(Joyce Kilmer - 1914)
Like Joyce Kilmer, most of us do like trees, whether it's for their beauty, their shade, their grandeur, or even for the utility and strength of their wood. I've just finished an excellent book entitled Remarkable Trees of Virginia and with Earth Day coming up tomorrow, I decided to throw in a quick plug for it. If you love marvelous trees - big trees, old trees, especially interesting trees, even historic trees - this is a book you should get, whether you live in Virginia or not.
There are magnificent color photos on every page (the one posted here is my own, however). In addition, a well-written accompanying text provides more information about each of the trees shown, their particular histories, and the growth habits, preferred microenvironment, and longevity of the species.
The book stems from a continuing project of the same name that was developed to find, list, and document the state's greatest trees - not just the largest, or the oldest, but also in a variety of other categories. One surprise to the layman is how evidently often a "champion" tree can be displaced by another, either by dint of the "champ's" demise, or by being overtaken in growth, or perhaps supplanted by a "new" tree that had not been previously documented.
All in all, an outstanding book. The original edition was quickly sold out, but a second press run is due this month. Click the icon in the right margin, where you can be notified when it's available.
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