By John Grimshaw and Ross Bayton

New Trees is one of the most significant works on trees to be published in the last three decades. New Trees by John Grimshaw and Ross Bayton is the result of a project endorsed and supported by the International Dendrology Society.  Prior to New Trees fantastic references such as W. J. Bean’s Trees and Shrubs in the British Isles ; Gerd Krussmann’s Manual of Cultivated Broad-leaved Trees and Shrubs, as well as The Hillier Manual of Trees and Shrubs were a few of the “bibles” for finding out information on the lesser known trees and shrubs in cultivation.

New Trees represents 180 genera and 800 species which are new to cultivation since 1970.  This reference does not include ‘every’ new tree to cultivation, but covers the geographic scope including continental Europe; most of the United States, but not including the southern states south of North Carolina and any of the areas south of San Francisco.  Essentially, this book covers all temperate species with the inclusion of some sub-tropical species.

In the introduction many subjects are covered in detail including what makes a tree a tree; hardiness; global warming and climate change; nomenclature and synonyms.  There is a chapter dedicated to conservation.  There is a good explanation of the IUCN Red List categories which is the international body that designates plants that have threatened conservation status in the wild.

The body of this reference is an alphabetical list by genus starting with the firs, Abies and ending with Zelkova schneideriana.  For each species there is a technical botanical description and in many cases botanical line drawings, as well as, a color photograph.  In addition to the botanical description there is a detailed accounting of the history of each species; further horticultural descriptions; and notes on cultivation and pest and disease concerns.  In some instances botanical keys are included.

Flipping through the pages many new additions to the Scott Arboretum are revealed such as, Alangium chinense; Cathaya argyrophylla , an extremely rare member of the pine family; Corylus fargesii , a beautiful hazel we received from the Morris Arboretum with flaking, tawny bark; Nyssa ogeche, ogeeche lime is closely related to our native black gum, Nyssa sylvatica; and Wollemia nobilis, Wollemi pine, the rare Australian conifer.

For the horticulturist, botanist, and avid home gardener this is a reference to be coveted.  Not only is it beautiful, well written book, but it is full of exquisite line drawings, stunning photographs and seemingly endless useful information.

Hear John Grimshaw speak about his new book this Friday at the Woody Plant Conference. You also have an opportunity to purchase this great reference and have it signed by the author.

by Alan Weisman

Humans often look at the world from their point of view. When we learn about the history of the earth, we are often most interested in the beginning of humanity and assume that life on this planet won’t continue without us. But Alan Weisman challenges us to think differently in The World Without Us. Weisman proposes the idea that one day humanity suddenly disappears and describes in detail, using New York City as the point of reference, what will happen to all of our man-made buildings and paraphernalia once people are no longer there to maintain them. Of course Weisman reminds us that in order to examine a future world without humanity, we must understand to the best of our ability the way the earth was before humanity. The creative descriptions of the development of life on earth and the evolution of humanity are not only informative but entertaining and allow the reader to think beyond his or her usual frame of reference. And the book ultimately begs the question: what is our final impact on this planet? Will our supposedly timeless architecture and art last beyond us? Or will plastic water bottles be the only things to remember us by? This book will be enjoyed by historians, environmentalists and naturalists alike.

This book will be discussed tonight, April 13 from 5 to 6 pm, as part of the Scott Arboretum’s “Nature’s Narratives” Book Discussion Group. Also check out the other must-reads as part of this group!

Several years ago, Lucinda Fleeson packed up her comfortable life and English garden in Philadelphia and moved to Hawaii, the Extinction Capital of the World. Traditionally a reporter, Lucinda accepted a development position at the National Tropical Botanical Garden on the island of Kauai to work with Dr. Bill Klein (former Director of the Morris Arboretum).

Her position came with a no-frills cottage (at first barely habitable) but it was set on the edge of a rainforest amid mango trees and bamboo groves teeming with geckos and visited by wild pigs. The ocean, lush green mountains, and rocky coves were just down the red dirt road.

Not only do we get a glimpse of Lucinda’s life as she greets the challenges of this move and what she takes on personally and professionally, but we also learn about Kauai’s history, traditions, beaches, volcanoes, food, spiritual places, and especially its plant life and those closely connected to saving it. So much of what we think of as tropical Hawaiian plants are actually all introduced to the Hawaiian Islands and not native. While working at the National Tropical Botanical Garden, Lucinda learns that the native plants are dying at an alarming rate. Through her journey we meet plant hunters and propagators trying to save endangered flora and scientists studying geological and climate changes.

Waking Up in Eden allows us a glimpse into the inner workings of a botanical garden and to the mysterious, glamorous life of Robert and John Allerton as well as other historical characters that influence and inspire Lucinda’s own life.

By: Barbara Kingsolver

Well-known novelist Barbara Kingsolver takes us on a different journey in her memoir Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life. Kingsolver and her husband and two daughters move from their Tucson, Arizona home of many years to a farmhouse in the southern Appalachians. One of the main reasons for their relocation was their desire to live in a place that could sustain them. The family decided to spend the following year trying to the best of their ability to grow everything that they eat and if they can’t, buy it only from a local farmer.

The concept may seem foreign to most of us living in the modern food system, but really it is the most basic form of healthful living: understanding where all of your food and water comes from and eating a seasonal diet based on locally supplied vegetables and meats. For gardeners this book is educational as well as entertaining because Kingsolver’s expert gardening abilities play a major role in the family’s ability to survive off the land. If anything, this book will help to open your mind to exactly where the food you eat comes from and to begin to think about what the costs are to the environment and your body from food that comes from far away.

This book will be discussed on Tuesday, February 9, Noon to 1 pm as part of the Scott Arboretum’s Nature’s Narratives Book Discussion Group. Also check out the other must-reads as part of this group!

By Bill McKibben

The term “deep ecology” was coined in the 1970s and references a philosophy within the environmental movement that emphasizes the incorporation of humanity as part of ecosystems; and that the choices that people make in their daily lives affect the ecosystem in which they find themselves. Bill McKibben plays on those words with his manifesto Deep Economy, and urges the reader to think about the usual concept that having more things necessarily implies growth. McKibben’s book shows that our choices as individuals matter to our greater community of humanity and that the way we consume things, food, and services impacts our society. Ultimately, McKibben tries to teach the reader that the future of our economy should be locally driven and conscientiously chosen.

Join us to discuss this book on Tuesday, January 12, from Noon to 1 pm as part of the Scott Arboretum’s Nature’s Narratives Book Discussion Group. Also check out the other must-reads as part of this group!

by Christopher Bailes

As the year comes to a close, and winter has set in, it is a wonderful time stop by the James R. Frorer Holly Collection to view the many different species and cultivars that make the Scott Arboretum so unique. But, when looking for a resource that will explain the cultivation and growing requirements for many of the most popular kinds of hollies, look no further than Christopher Bailes’ book. Hollies for Gardeners is an in-depth guide to the best holly species and cultivars to bring to your garden, many of which are growing here at Scott. Bailes explains the history of hollies as cultivated plants, the best ways to integrate hollies into the garden, how to propagate them, and their common pests and diseases. The appendix lists some of the best places in the world to view hollies, including the Scott Arboretum! This book is an excellent resource for anyone considering adding a holly to the garden. But, it also makes an excellent reference book for students of the genus Ilex.

Check this book out at the Scott Horticultural Library.

by Michael W. Buffin

Here at the Scott Arboretum, we always consider what our garden areas look like in winter because that is when most of the College community is on campus to enjoy them. So, winter is anything but a bleak time at Scott. Many of the plants that bring the most spectacular blooms and interest during winter are the winter-flowering shrubs, most of which are discussed in detail in Michael Buffin’s book. While Buffin writes from England, he makes a point to comment on how these plants are grown here in the U.S. The book is split into 2 sections: designing for winter, and an A-to-Z guide to winter flowering shrubs. The plant guide is very complete and includes magnolias and witch hazels. The design section discusses winter pruning, hardiness zones, using stem and bark for winter interest, and an in-depth discussion of why plants bloom in the winter in the first place. I have found this book to be invaluable when learning about plants that bloom during the winter here at Scott and it is a wonderful tool to have when planning your garden for winter interest.

Check this book out at the Scott Horticultural Library.

by Nancy J. Ondra and Stephanie Cohen

As all gardeners and nature appreciators know, autumn is a time for beautifully colored foliage. But fall is also a time of bountiful flowers and incredible textures. In Fallscaping, Ondra and Cohen bring all of the wonderful and exciting things about the garden in fall to the reader. This book is a great mix of practical how-to advice on things to do in the garden in fall, to cultural descriptions and requirements for plants that peak in the autumn season. Thirty-eight ??Fall Technique?? sections go in-depth on topics special to gardening in fall and range from caring for tender plants indoors to seed saving. There are even shopping lists filled with wonderful plants to add to your garden to help extend your gardening season into fall. This is a beautiful book to look at as well, filled with many striking photographs (some of the Scott Arboretum) that will help to inspire you to design your garden with autumn in mind.

Check this book out at the Scott Horticultural Library.

As so many Dorling Kindersley books do, this encyclopedia of herbs offers the reader both the basic information and in-depth details on herbs and gardening. Through a series of informative drawings and photographs, this guide teaches not only how to design and maintain an herb garden, but also the details of the many types of herbs that one might chose to add to an herb garden. Herbs have been grown for centuries for medicinal and culinary purposes as well as for aesthetic reasons. Did you know that Asclepias tuberosa has been used to treat everything from bronchitis to influenza? Or that Rosmarinus officinalis can be used to improve scalp and hair health? This book delves into these kinds of details for hundreds of herbs. You will also learn how to design a vegetable potager, how to incorporate herbs into existing garden beds, and many other interesting facts about gardening with herbs.

If you would like to learn more about the culinary use of herbs, join us for a Culinary Herb Party with Gregg Tepper on August 27^th from 6 to 8pm.

Guy Sternberg was the first president of the International Oak Society and is a life member of the International Dendrology Society. He brings his expert knowledge to all gardeners in this fascinating book about using native trees in North American landscapes. Sternberg addresses the main topic of gardening with native trees by discussing the fundamentals of nature and the need for gardeners to embrace them. Sternberg comments that “nature is a system of overlapping parts that fit together in a multidimensional jigsaw puzzle.” His basic concept of planting the right plant in the right place leads to in-depth discussions of almost 100 trees native to North America and their natural habitats. He also explains how to cultivate these plants in your landscape to have a garden that not only looks beautiful but is a functioning ecosystem.

Check this book out of our Horticultural Library and see Guy Sternberg lecture at the 2009 Woody Plant Conference on July 17, 2009. To learn more about native trees see our brochure Native Trees for the Home Landscape.