How does a nation celebrate its native trees?  The Irish Society of Botanical Artists answers this with superb illustrations in “Crainn na hÉireann” (Ireland’s Native Trees), a luscious book to be celebrated for the quality of its art.  But there is an important lesson here, too.  Ireland of a thousand years ago had 80% tree coverage – a quite different landscape from today.

As Elaine Moore Mackey, chair of the Society wrote in the introduction, “If we cannot recognise our natives, how can we expect to love them.  And if we do not love and appreciate native trees, we will lose them.”

Included are 22 species of trees.  As 38 artists contributed to this book, this allows there to be several images and perspectives for each.  These include leaves, flowers, fruit, bark, and – for most – a full profile.  The illustrations are without commentary other than brief captions that provide the artist’s name, the tree’s botanical name, its name in English and Irish, and the season of the illustration.  Discrete rulers provide scale.

The commentary is reserved for the introduction, and in a forward by Seamus O’Brien, Head Gardener at the National Botanic Gardens, Kilmacurragh.  O’Brien writes, “Photography is no substitute for botanical art, and the illustration throughout the following pages beautifully highlights the trees of our native landscape, that gladden the heart at every season.”

Reviewed by: Brian Thompson on August 19, 2024

Excerpted from the Fall 2024 issue of the Arboretum Bulletin

When I first flipped through “Street Trees of Seattle”, I had the impression this was a graphic novel style treatment of a field guide.  After a closer look, I realized my failure to appreciate the incredible amount of depth and details provided by the author and illustrator Taha Ebrahimi.

In one sense, this is a collection of neighborhood maps of Seattle indicating significant street trees.  But it is also like a field guide, as each of the trees are identified with drawings and succinct descriptions of distinguishing characteristics.  There is no wasted space; only the most significant features are included allowing a walker, with book in hand, to be certain of recognition.

Throughout there are “deeper digs” that tell the highlights of specimen trees, or their neighborhood, or a snippet of Seattle history.  For those who like facts, this is a gold mine.  The author uses width as the primary measure of size as that proved the most reliable.  Other nuggets include the earliest recorded date for a genus in Seattle, or the total number planted as street trees.  The most numerous?  Maples (Acer) with nearly 37,000, or 22% of the total.

These facts come from the data published in 2020 by Seattle Department of Transportation which Ebrahimi, taking advantage of the lull in society during the height of the Covid pandemic, verified by walking these neighborhoods.  This book does not provide an exhaustive inventory.  Instead, the author concentrated on a single genus in each area, supplemented with a listing of other “notable” street trees.  The impressive list of reference sources highlights the extent of the research.

Ultimately, Ebrahimi hopes all these drawings and facts are just a starting point to encourage readers to get out to walk and really look at their neighborhoods.  Hopefully, this allows you to “make contact with the urban forest, to know the stories that came before us and to connect with a sense of place that data by itself can never capture.”

Reviewed by: Brian Thompson on August 19, 2024

Excerpted from the Fall 2024 issue of the Arboretum Bulletin

A light approach to introducing trees can be found in “Knowing the Trees” by Ken Keffer.  This book is a delightful collection of short anecdotes and observations about North American trees.

These range from how the trees function, to how humans and other creatures interact with them.  A few individual species are highlighted, such as the threats to the longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) or the near elimination of the American chestnut (Castanea dentata), but overall this is a celebration of forests as a whole biome.

Many of the stories are about animals.  A section titled “Litter Critters” highlights the ovenbird, a type of warbler that builds complex nests in the forest duff, or the wood frogs that that survive in leaf litter over winter.  “Evolutionary Anachronism” suggests that the Osage-orange (Maclura pomifera) was likely spread historically by long extinct mastodons.  While that role has been somewhat replaced by horses, the distribution of the tree is now much more restricted.

The illustrations, by Emily Walker, a Seattle native now living in California, are well-suited for the general tenor of the book, providing interpretation for the text.  I think this book’s biggest appeal will be to those that are not especially familiar with trees.  It would make a great holiday gift to that family member you want to get interested in the Arboretum!  Keffer is talented at invoking a scene:

“Jumping in a pile of leaves is a time-honored tradition.  As leaves pile up like confetti on the ground, though, don’t feel pressured to rake them all up.”  The author goes on to explain the advantage of leaving at least some leaves, concluding, “after you enjoy nature’s fall fireworks display, save your back and your backyard by leaving the leaves.”

Reviewed by: Brian Thompson on August 19, 2024

Excerpted from the Fall 2024 issue of the Arboretum Bulletin

“Twelve Trees” focuses on rare and mostly endangered tree species.  As suggested by the title, author Daniel Lewis has written essays on a dozen tree species from around the world with a focus not only on their botanical qualities and ecological role, but also their importance to human culture.

Each chapter begins with a stylized image of its subject by Eric Nyquist, but otherwise there are no illustrations.  Fortunately, Lewis is a talented writer.  “I’ve chosen twelve trees that have been on long journeys, have many accomplices as well as enemies, and need our help to survive.”  This last part is key, as several of the trees are at risk due to human interference, including climate change.

Some of the twelve trees will be quite familiar, such as the coast redwoods (Sequoia sempervirens).  Others, such as the gigantic ceiba (Ceiba pentandra) of Central and South America, may be new to readers.  New to me was the toromiro (Sophora toromiro), a small tree that is no longer found on its native island of Rapa Nui, also known as Easter Island, although there are efforts to restore it.  One chapter even profiles an extinct tree, Humenaea protera, that is the source of much of the world’s amber or fossilized resin.

Animals associated with the featured trees are an important component of these stories.  The giant harpy eagle nests in ceiba trees.  The Clark’s nutcracker helps spread seeds of bristlecone pines (Pinus longaeva).  African elephants are a threat to baobab trees (Adansonia digitata), destroying them to find a source of water in a drying climate.

Only one of the featured trees is a major food source for humans: the olive tree (Olea europaea).  This has been an essential agricultural crop for at least 3,000 years.  Even the English word “oil” is derived from the Greek word for olive oil.  The process to ensure good quality for consumers involves an intricate process of taste testing.  “It’s a functional food that works across cultural, geographic, and socioeconomic boundaries.”

Reviewed by: Brian Thompson on August 19, 2024

Excerpted from the Fall 2024 issue of the Arboretum Bulletin

“Rare Trees” by Sara Oldfield and Malin Rivers is a most sumptuous book!  Filled with excellent photographs, these show both the individual trees and the vistas of the forests they inhabit.  This large book (400 pages) is a pleasure just for leafing through.

But this is much more than a picture book.  The trees are typically rare because of major threats, most caused by humans.  These include clearance for agriculture, unsustainable logging for timber, competition from invasive species, the introduction of new diseases or insect pests, and even plants dug for the nursery trade.  The rarity of each species is indicated by its Red List status, a measure developed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).  Most in this book are in the Critically Endangered, Endangered, or Vulnerable categories.

It’s hard to describe the richness of this book, there is so much to both read and absorb.  The species are primarily grouped by ecosystem or genera, but departing from that structure is an especially interesting chapter based on usage, such as for medicines, edible fruits, or ornamental plantings.  Throughout there are side bars and short essays that expand or highlight the basic facts.  While being very clear on the dangers and dire threats, Oldfield and Rivers also give many examples of ways to address the survival of these rarities, while also preserving and typically enhancing the impact on human livelihoods.

An example is the Brazil nut (Bertholletia excelsa), an immense tree that produces an edible crop popular for snacking around the world.  These trees are not suitable for orchard culture and are found primarily in the Amazon rainforest.  While some measures have been taken to preserve these trees in Brazil and neighboring Bolivia, it is Peru that has developed the most robust management plan.  Traditional collecting rights are protected through concessions established by individual families, and as an additional benefit, nearly 2,000,000 acres of rainforest are protected.

I have played recorders since high school and as an adult have acquired several fine instruments.  Part of their beauty is the wood used in their making.  In a chapter from “Rare Trees” on “Precious Timbers and Music Woods,” I learned much about the biology of the source trees and their history in musical instrument making.

Many are in the genus Dalbergia, the most valuable being D. melanoxylon, known as African blackwood or grenadilla.  In addition to recorders, it is the favored wood for clarinets and oboes, and within its wide native range through much of sub-Sahara Africa, it is a popular choice for sculpture.

The range of the genus extends to the new world where other species are used for musical instruments including recorders.  Examples are cocobolo (D. retusa) from Central America, and Brazilian rosewood (D. nigra), named for the pleasant fragrance it emits after being cut.  This fragrance can linger for years after the instrument is made.

Until recently, these species were numerous enough to meet the demand, but a global rise in using these woods for high-end furniture has put the genus at risk.  The authors describe in detail the efforts by various organizations to develop local and sustainable management of these trees.

The authors also want to engage the readers in preservation.  An epilogue gives several suggestions on how anyone can help, including “visit your local botanic garden or arboretum to find out how they are helping tree conservation – and support them.”  Good advice indeed!

This remarkable book won an Award of Excellence in Plants and Environmental Change from the Council on Botanical and Horticultural Libraries in 2025.

Reviewed by: Brian Thompson on August 19, 2024

Excerpted from the Fall 2024 issue of the Arboretum Bulletin

“The milkweed is a displaced citizen in its own land.  Where once it owned the continent, it’s now a kind of vagrant, occupying the botanical equivalent of homeless encampments.”  With this quote, author Eric Lee-Mäder introduces “The Milkweed Lands.”

This engaging book, richly illustrated by Beverly Duncan, is focused on Asclepius, a genus with over 90 species in North America.  While perhaps most famous as a food source for monarch butterflies, the author expands that perception to see milkweeds as an essential part of many different ecosystems.

This story begins with the winter blizzards of the northern prairie ecosystem of the United States and Canada.  Underneath the snow an incredible amount of life continues.  This includes the roots of the milkweeds and the various insects, fungi, small mammals and other creatures surviving and even thriving.  Exploring this world down to the cellular level, this could be heavy-going, but Lee-Mäder has a light touch, making these complex scientific principles quite easy to understand.

The story continues into the other seasons, in part featuring restoration efforts in California’s Central Valley.  Here hedgerows often shelter Asclepius species that have been eliminated on the adjacent farmlands or orchards for their weedy qualities.  Other plants and animals, often also deplored by humans, find their homes here, too.

Reviewed by: Brian Thompson on May 20, 2024

Excerpted from the Summer 2024 issue of the Arboretum Bulletin

When I first was a student volunteer at the Miller Library in the 1990s, I was struck by the several titles in the collection on the plants and flowers of the Bible.  This was a popular subject, especially in the mid to later 20^th century.

It is exciting that newer books are exploring the spiritual and cultural importance of plants for indigenous peoples, and in other sacred texts.  The newest example is “Plants of the Qur’ān: History & Culture” by Shahina A. Ghazanfar.  The book is richly illustrated by Sue Wickison, earning it an Award of Excellence for Botanical Illustration by the Council on Botanical and Horticultural Libraries in 2024.

The text gives detailed accounts of the origins, history, and traditional uses of important plants to Muslims and other groups in western Asia and the eastern Mediterranean regions.  Some of these plants, like ginger (Zingiber officinale, Zanjābīl in Arabic), have spread widely through human migrations from its native habitat in southeast, maritime Asia.

This introduced plant made a very favorable impression in early Islam: “Zanjābīl is mentioned once in the Qur’ān with reference to the final destination for the righteous and those who have done good deeds on earth, that they will be blessed with shaded gardens with fruit and a drink mixed with ginger.”

One of the most fascinating entries is the “Toothbrush Tree” (Salvadora persica; Khamț).  This shrub or small, evergreen tree is found in Africa and western Asia.  The fruit is considered inedible by most cultures, but the roots and small branches can be used for “cleansing and strengthening teeth, freshening the breath and preventing cavities.”  Who needs toothpaste or mouthwash?

Reviewed by: Brian Thompson on May 20, 2024

Excerpted from the Summer 2024 issue of the Arboretum Bulletin

Annie Proulx, the well-known fiction writer of books such as “The Shipping News” and short stories including “Brokeback Mountain”, has also published non-fiction books and booklets on various aspects of gardening.  Five of these are in the Miller Library collection.  The most recent by this one-time Washington state resident is “Fen, Bog & Swamp.”

This is not a book directly about gardening, but is concerned with the limited origins of peat, a long-time staple component of potting soils and an important carbon sink.  The wetlands that generate peat have been disappearing, primarily caused by human activities.  To understand this process, it is important to understand wetlands in their many forms.

Fens are deep wetlands that have as their source streams carrying minerals from higher elevations.  This supports various grasses and reeds.  A bog is shallower and relies on rain as its only source of replenishing water.  Sphagnum mosses are prominent in these low-nutrient environments.  Swamps are typically at the end of a succession that begins with fens and bogs.  They have the least depth of water and will support trees and shrubs.  Eventually, they will likely become a dry forest.

Proulx weaves human stories into her discussions, both historical and quite recent.  An example is the fate of the Grand Kankakee Marsh in northwest Indiana.  “This scenario has been repeated the world over: swathes of fen, bog or swamp are deemed too wet for agriculture and the cry goes up that for the public good it must be drained.  But the new lands then usually became the property of developers and big agriculturists or ranchers—public good neatly sidestepped.”

Reviewed by: Brian Thompson on May 20, 2024

Excerpted from the Summer 2024 issue of the Arboretum Bulletin

Dr. Luschiim Arvid Charlie “is a respected elder and botanical expert of Cowichan Tribes, and a fluent speaker of his Hul’q’umi’num’ language.  His knowledge of plants is truly remarkable and comes from deep training and experience, starting in his earliest childhood years.”

This is how Nancy J. Turner introduces her co-author of “Luschiim’s Plants’, a book on the ethnobotany of the Coast Salish peoples of southern Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands in British Columbia.  The result of 15 years of collaboration, this book discusses native plants from seaweeds to trees.

One of the longest entries is for Western Red-Cedar (Thuja plicata) or Xpey’, one of the names it is known by in Hul’q’umi’num’.  It has many uses throughout the life of indigenous peoples, being used both for diapers and coffins.  Where the tree grows distinguishes the qualities of its wood.  The swamp cedar has a high resin content is very heavy.  Those from rocky bluffs in the mountains have very light wood.

In between, there are two more distinct forms.  Plank cedar is from trees with no lower branches and easy to split.  Canoe cedars have small branches closer to the base, so the grain is intertwined or twisted, preventing boats made from this wood from splitting if they hit a rock.

Various members of the rose family are important food sources.  An unusual example is the Red Raspberry (Rubus idaeus; Tsulqama’).  Mostly known from the interior of British Columbia, an early European botanist found it plentiful on Vancouver Island in the 1840s.  But by the 1860s, it was reported as rare.  Luschiim speculates these were transplanted here from interior hunting grounds, but did not thrive.

Wild ginger (Asarum caudatum; Tth’uletth’ie’) is another example of gardening by these indigenous people.  While enjoyed for its flavorful stem, it also had important spiritual meaning.  To keep them thriving Luschiim explains, “whatever was somewhat rare then, you’d transplant them; certain important plants were moved, such as…wild ginger.”

This book was honored with an Award of Excellence in Field Guides in 2023 from the Council on Botanical and Horticultural Libraries.

Reviewed by: Brian Thompson on May 20, 2024

Excerpted from the Summer 2024 issue of the Arboretum Bulletin

Elizabeth Blackwell published “A Curious Herbal” in parts between 1735 and 1737.  This magnificent work, that I have seen at other libraries, includes her illustrations of 500 plants that were selected for their pharmaceutical qualities.  The artist lived near the Chelsea Physic Garden in London and drew from live examples in that garden’s collections.  Blackwell also wrote a brief text for each plant describing the size, growing conditions, bloom time, medicinal uses, and the name in several other European languages.

Besides the merit of this work for its high quality, Blackwell has a compelling story of perseverance under extremes challenges.  However, that story has lacked documentation of many details, including such basic facts as the places and years of her birth and death.

The original is very rare, so I was eager for the publication in 2023 of “A Curious Herbal: Elizabeth Blackwell’s Pioneering Masterpiece of Botanical Art,” an excellent reproduction that is near to full-size.  Like in the original, these images do not follow a taxonomic system, but rather were done as the live specimens became available.  It will not surprise gardeners that the first plate done in early spring is of Taraxacum officinale, the dandelion.

What makes this book even more valuable is the introduction by editor Marta McDowell, and a biography of the artist by Janet Stiles Tyson.  In this latter chapter, we learned that recently found documents indicate Blackwell was born in London in 1699 and named Elizabeth Simpson.  She married Alexander Blackwell, a printer from Scotland in 1733, but he was bankrupt less than a year later.

Elizabeth was forced to support her family.  “Friends advised her to produce pictures that could be published by subscription.”  These efforts were successful, but her reckless husband continued to complicate her life.  He moved to Sweden for work in 1742, leaving Elizabeth pregnant with their last child.  He never returned and was later accused of treason and executed by the Swedish government.  Sadly, little is known about Elizabeth after his death, although some sources list her death year as 1758.

While this story may seem incomplete, Blackwell’s legacy lives on through her work.  This book captures that history and received an Award of Excellence in History from the Council on Botanical and Horticultural Libraries in 2024.

Reviewed by: Brian Thompson on May 20, 2024

Excerpted from the Summer 2024 issue of the Arboretum Bulletin