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In a thorough and loving portrait of the Arbutus (madrone or madrona) tree genus, the author brings readers along on the adventure of a lifetime. His passion for the madrona tree takes him around the world in search of these trees, from Canada and the Americas to Israel and the Canary Islands. Packed full of educational passages interspersed with amusing life experiences and historical contextualization, this work treats readers to a detailed depiction of each species’ unique characteristics. The author brings the reader along on his adventures while providing parallel stories of the trees’ history, detailing the events that occurred to spread their population to different corners of the world.
Comprehensive color photos taken by the author accompany each chapter, showing the varied traits of each tree to their full effect. Speckled with travel anecdotes and portraits of colorful characters the author meets along the way and bookended by evocative poems, this guide provides an immersive education for novice dendrophiles and established arborists alike.
It is a daunting task to write a book about one single genus of tree, but the author does so with great love and humor. His quiet wit and engaging storytelling beautifully enhance his extensively researched subject. His excitement and passion for the madrona tree is clearly evident, infusing his words with joy. His passion is demonstrated even in the accompanying photos, which strikingly enrich his words. Even readers who are not particular tree enthusiasts will be charmed and captivated by this love story. This is a detailed, enlightening, and thoroughly enjoyable work.
RECOMMENDED by the US Review