While the Internet has become to the go-to place for information and research, let’s not forget books! Here’s a guide to helpful reference books and more available at the Shelter Island Library and in stores or online. If you have suggestions, send them to sifriendsoftrees@gmail.com.
Available in the Shelter Island Library:
Dirr’s Encyclopedia of Trees & Shrubs
by Michael A. Dirr
An indispensable reference book from a master plantsman.
by Wayne A. Sinclair & Howard H. Lyon
A Natural History of North American Trees
by Donald Culross Peattie
The Tree Book: Superior Selections for Landscapes, Streetscapes, and Gardens
by Michael A. Dirr & Keith S. Warren
by Richard Powers
Winner of the 2019 Pulitzer Prize in Fiction.
Available online and in stores:
American Canopy: Trees, Forests, and the Making of a Nation
by Eric Rutkow
“The remarkable story of the relationship between Americans and trees across the span of our nation’s history.”
The American Woodland Garden: Capturing the Spirit of the Deciduous Forest
by Rick Darke
A terrific guide to “designing, planting, and maintaining a garden in the woods.”
by Jonathan Driori
“Driori uses plant science to illuminate how trees play a role in every part of human life.”
The Book of Forest and Thicket: Trees, Shrub, and Wildflowers of Eastern North America
by John Eastman
Descriptions touch upon the ecological importance and Native American uses of trees.
Forest Bathing: How Trees Can Help You Find Happiness and Health
by Dr. Qing Li
The author demonstrates how “spending mindful, intentional time around trees‑what the Japanese call shinrin-yoku or forest bathing‑can promote health and happiness.”
A Handbook of the Trees of the Northern States and Canada
by Romeyn Beck Hough
An interesting historical reference book first published in 1907. Reprints can be found on Amazon and vintage books stores.
The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate
by Peter Wohlleben
Welcome to the Wood Wide Web!
Lives of the Trees: An Uncommon History
by Diana Wells
Lively biographies of 100 species, from Acacia to Yew.
by Jim Robbins
A nurseryman sets out to clone the hardiest trees in the world.
by Thomas Pakenham
Pakenham’s other tree books include The Remarkable Baobab and The Company of Trees.
Tree-Talk: Memories, Myths and Timeless Customs
by Marie-France Boyer
by Bernd Heinrich
The always-interesting Heinrich writes about “his 300 acres of Maine forest to expose the forest’s rhythms.”
by Daniel Chamovitz
“A rare inside look at what life is really like for the grass we walk on, the flowers we sniff, and the trees we climb, What a Plant Knows offers us a greater understanding of science and our place in nature.”
The Wild Trees: A Story of Passion and Daring
by Richard Preston
Fascinating account of a group of botanists and naturalists who discover wonders in the canopy of the redwoods.