![[Landmarks] cover](https://depts.washington.edu/hortlib/graphix/landmarks.jpg)
In Landmarks Robert Macfarlane develops his conviction that fully knowing a landscape depends on knowing the many carefully specific words people have used to describe it. To this end he builds this book around types of land: mountains, woods, waterways, and more. Each chapter consists of a section on his encounter with an author who has written with verbal precision about one type, followed by a glossary of terms (usually not used in the first part of the chapter) gathered from multiple regions, dialects and languages of Britain and Ireland.
Chapter 10, titled “The Black Locust and the Silver Pine,” focuses on John Muir, a Scot who came to America. Macfarlane quotes from Muir’s works and notes his accomplishments, such as convincing Teddy Roosevelt to set aside Yosemite as a national park after the two men had camped there. “‘Few are altogether deaf to the preaching of pine trees,'” Muir had written, and Roosevelt listened.
Macfarlane writes with much felicity. Here he is on the bristlecone pine: “Muir loved the bristlecone pine for its extravagantly torqued and gnarled form, and for its extreme resilience to the adversities of gale, avalanche and flame that the mountains threw at it. He was a bristlecone pine himself in that respect, and though his words lay dormant for decades, they would eventually germinate and grow with astonishing consequence.”
The glossary for this chapter, titled “Woodlands,” has subcategories of “Branches, Leaves, Roots and Trunks,” “Fallen Wood and Cut Wood,” “Woods and Woodlands.” Entries give the word, a brief definition, and the source. For example, “celynnog – abounding in holly (place name element) – Welsh” or “chissom – first shoots of a newly cut coppice – Cotswolds.” Many terms have delicious sounds, though some mysterious for an American to pronounce. This glossary runs to ten pages, and like all the others in the book gives a dizzying array of specific terms, many already lost in popular usage or rapidly disappearing. We lose the way to connect closely to the land, Macfarlane believes, when we lose these words.
The pleasures of this book lie in Macfarlane’s poetic nature writing, in making or renewing acquaintance with other inspiring nature writers, and savoring all those words.
Published in Leaflet for Scholars, Vol. 7 Issue 3, March 2020.
One of the earliest fern books, ”The Ferns of Great Britain” (published in 1855), is better known for its illustrator John Edward Sowerby (1825-1870) rather than the botanist who wrote the text, Charles Johnson (1791-1880). While this was not typical, it is perhaps because Sowerby was also the publisher. There is no record of professional jealousy, as the pair produced several other books on wild flowers, poisonous plants, grasses, and useful plants found in Britain and Ireland.
While the Victorian fern craze of late 19th century Britain had less impact in North America, one noted author who recognized the need for a guide to the ferns of the northeastern United States was Frances Theodora Parsons (1861-1952), who wrote the field guide “How to Know the Ferns” (1899). Parsons was very active in New York City and State politics and active advocate for women’s suffrage. Her autobiography, written late in her long life, talked little of her botanical writing that included three other books. However, during her active botany period, before the death of her second husband in 1902, her books were very popular.
Edward Joseph Lowe (1825-1900) had the financial means to be an astronomer, a meteorologist, and an expert on ferns, the latter for him being “a matter of everyday life.” He wrote several very popular books in the last half of the 19th century, during the “fern craze” that engulfed England at the time. In “Our Native Ferns” (1867-69), he focuses on many of the highly coveted mutations, including Athyrium filix-femina var. multifidum, which he describes as “a most beautiful, symmetrical, and graceful Fern, although a monstrosity.” This book was a catalogue to these many forms, which were the most desirable objects for fern collectors.
One of my favorite fern authors is Francis George Heath (1843-1913). A prolific writer, he was keen on popularizing ferns with a well-honed eye and wit. He wrote at least one book about ferns for children and in all his books, he encourages fern tourism. His favorite destination was his home shire of Devon, located in the west of England with long, wild coasts on both the English and Bristol Channels.
As the curator of ferns at the New York Botanical Garden, John Mickel has considerable experience with the cold hardiness of his subjects. He recognizes that his book “Ferns for American Gardens” is “not the last word on hardy fern cultivation, but only a beginning.” Despite being from the East Coast, his many garden worthy selections are vetted for suitability throughout the country, and in his acknowledgements he credits many members of the Hardy Fern Foundation, based in the Seattle area, for their input. A recommended book by local fern expert Sue Olsen.
Martin Rickard’s “The Plantfinder’s Guide to Garden Ferns” includes an extensive list and description of cultivars, an obvious passion of the author and very popular with patrons of the Miller Library, as the book has been checked out over 30 times. This has excellent illustrations, including two-page plates containing several varieties for comparison; the fine foliage clearly highlighted by the lighter background. A favorite book of local fern expert Sue Olsen.