An Eclectic Guide to Trees East of the Rockies

"The scope of this book is biological rather than political," writes author Glen Blouin. "It is neither a Native Trees of Canada, nor a Native Trees of the United States. Trees are apolitical characters. They do not recognize international boundaries. They grow where they are comfortable, where the climate and soils suit them." This one-of-a-kind book is certainly an excellent guide to identifying the almost fifty major tree species east of the Rockies by their components (size, wood, bark, leaf, flower, fruit, twig, etc.), but it goes far beyond such basic details. It also provides: the history of each species its range, record sizes, preferred sites, and seasonal changes its value as habitat for fauna its role in interspecies interaction its natural enemies (insects, blights, diseases) its use by humans as ornamentals, shade trees, or windbreaks its historic and modern use as a source of food or medicine the properties of its wood for woodworking, and other domestic and industrial use recommendations for planting and care and important notes on conservation "This thoughtful book by Glen Blouin nicely explores the broader significance of tree species found east of the Rockies, in Canada and the United States. It expands on all that interesting information that is only touched upon through a sentence or two in standard field guides ... Every forest is a treasure house of such knowledge if we only have a companion such as this book to help us gain access." from the foreword by Monte Hummel, President, World Wildlife Fund, Canada

About the Author :
Glen Blouin has devoted the past twenty-five years to forest education. He holds a Masters of Forestry degree and for ten years served as executive director of the Canadian Forestry Association, Canada's only nonprofit charity dedicated to public education on trees, forests and forestry. His previous book was Weeds of the Woods: Small Trees and Shrubs of the Eastern Forest. He lives with his wife, Michelle, in the Gatineau Hills north of Ottawa, Ontario.

Review :
A comfortable compromise between the harder science of the subject and a wealth of contextual information.--Ottawa Citizen's Weekly A trove of facts, trivia, and lore that should be on every tree lover's shelf.--Atlantic Forestry All readers who seek to enter the world of trees, be it for identification purposes, information, or simply out of interest, will enjoy this book.--Wood Le Bois Best environmental reference book of the year ... Not your average field guide ... attractive and compelling reference.--Canadian Geographic Delightful ... captures the author's passion for his subject ... More than just a reference guide ... reveals the captivating uses of each species both in a historical context and in today's reality, anecdotes, and conservation notes ... a pleasurable read and highly recommended.--Wood Design and Building If you can't get out in the woods, you can always read Blouin's exploration of trees.--Sawmill and Woodlot Like a walk through the woods ... you can smell the air and feel the wet leaves underfoot while reading this guide ... The most recent, and by far most readable, of Canadian tree guides ... will make a great gift.--Canadian Forest Industries Of interest not only to foresters, but to anyone having an interest in trees and forests ... while technically accurate, written in a folksy and easily read style ... the book will make a great gift.--Forestry Chronicle Of interest to the accomplished arborist and novice nature lover alike.--Land Mosaic [Nature Conservancy of Canada] Straightforward, accessible ... excellent book for beginning dendrologists and even experienced botanists ... Casual, folksy, but readers can trust the credibility of this relaxed author ... A refreshingly cross-border perspective ... made it to the top shelf I reserve for actively used natural history books.--Northern Woodlands This excellent guide for educators and outdoor enthusiast goes beyond the basics to explore the broader significance of trees.--Green Teacher