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The Long, Long Life of Trees
The Long, Long Life of Trees | Fiona Stafford
12 posts | 6 read | 1 reading | 22 to read
A lyrical tribute to the diversity of trees, their physical beauty, their special characteristics and uses, and their ever-evolving meanings Since the beginnings of history trees have served humankind in countless useful ways, but our relationship with trees has many dimensions beyond mere practicality. Trees are so entwined with human experience that diverse species have inspired their own stories, myths, songs, poems, paintings, and spiritual meanings. Some have achieved status as religious, cultural, or national symbols. In this beautifully illustrated volume Fiona Stafford offers intimate, detailed explorations of seventeen common trees, from ash and apple to pine, oak, cypress, and willow. The author also pays homage to particular trees, such as the fabled Ankerwyke Yew, under which Henry VIII courted Anne Boleyn, and the spectacular cherry trees of Washington, D.C. Stafford discusses practical uses of wood past and present, tree diseases and environmental threats, and trees potential contributions toward slowing global climate change. Brimming with unusual topics and intriguing facts, this book celebrates trees and their long, long lives as our inspiring and beloved natural companions.
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AllDebooks
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#Naturalitsy #Midwintersolace #Naturalitsyswap

Thank you so much @jenniferw88 for my lovely gifts. I adore Angela Harding's artwork, so thanks for the calendar. It's already in my journal. Ireally wanted a copy of The return to the light. The tree books are perfect. Nothing finer in this world than 🌳🌳 & 🦊🦊🦊

jenniferw88 There's a fox bookmark hiding in one of the books 😂😂😂 10mo
AllDebooks @jenniferw88 🩵🦊🩵 10mo
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review
merelybookish
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Pickpick

This book is a cultural and social history of trees. Perfect for literary types (Stafford is a Professor of English at Oxford). Not really for botanists. 🌲🌳🌴
Each chapter traces a particular tree's symbolic and historical meaning, the way it's been used, how its value or presence has changed. She is thorough, descriptive and informative. I really enjoyed it. 💚
Pictured is Monet's Weeping Willow, a tree associated with unrequited love. 💔

Centique This sounds right up my alley 😍 7y
Cathythoughts Sounds great. The country house we stayed in last weekend, had a Forrest garden of trees. The lady of the house talks to the trees & says they are very healing. 💫 7y
merelybookish @Centique It is full of wonderful tree lore. ☺️ @Cathythoughts I believe it! 💚 7y
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merelybookish
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My parents and niece left this morning. We had a great week together...but it was busy, busy, busy. I didn't read much at all.
So today is a lazy day, dedicated to catching up (#MAANreadalong) and finishing up (two trees to go, the pine and the apple).

readinginthedark This sounds so interesting! 7y
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merelybookish
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Look who popped up in my reading today! #HenryIV. Or more accurately a quote from Henry IV: "Peace puts forth her olive everywhere."
(That Shakespeare, he's everywhere!)
This book about ? ? ? is great. Each chapter provides a cultural history of a particular species e.g. oak, yew, olive. The olive is associated with peace and life, of course. Olive comes from Latin and actually translates as 'O live!'
#seductiveshakespeare @jenniferw88

saresmoore I want this book in my life. 7y
merelybookish @saresmoore I borrowed this copy from the library but I'm tempted to buy it. It's a fun book and easy to dip in and out of. 7y
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merelybookish
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Next up. I'm on a little nature writing kick these days...🌳🌳

quietlycuriouskate 🌳💚 7y
batsy Love that cover! 7y
Cathythoughts And they do have such very long lives. I love the trees 🌲 7y
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charl08
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Pickpick

Great read, but mostly British trees. Poetry, history, folkore and beautiful illustrations like this woodcut.

Anyone recommend anything on trees outside the UK?

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charl08
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I had never made the connection between birch tree and 'birching' or caning someone before.

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charl08
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Yew trees may pre-date the churches where they stand: cherry trees in Washington were first a gift from the Japanese state...

rockpools Ooh. This looks lovely! 8y
charl08 @RachelO I feel very jammy to have got the library copy first: brand new book smell! 8y
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charl08
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The black and white illustrations in this book are stunning. My much-dropped phone camera can't do them justice.

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Kmmsellers
Pickpick

A really interesting exploration of the history, uses, and symbolism of a variety of trees. After reading, I'm even more aware of the ways that trees oversee our lives, mark our passing, and inform our stories.

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Humanatea
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I didn't think I needed a history of trees in culture, but then this cover happened

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Kmmsellers
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Anyone else get sad when you realize that you can never read all of the books? I've been browsing the fall catalogs. So many good books and my backlist TBR is also long. Anya feels my pain.

kendra Gorgeous Shepherd! I now have to add that I also named my GSD Buffy 😀 8y
Litlady Anya the literary canine. 🐶 Just beautiful .. I need to post a pic of my male GSD, Otto! 🐾 8y
Suzze My favorite breed of dog. I don't own a dog, but German Shepherds and I are kindred spirits. 8y
Kmmsellers @Suzze GSDs are wonderful! @kendra Thank you! And what a perfect name! We've decided if we get a male GSD, we have to call him Xander 😊 8y
Kmmsellers @Litlady yes! Would love to see a pic of Otto. 8y
14 likes2 stack adds5 comments