This is a history of the trees, woodlands and forests of Scotland and of the people who used them. It begins 11,500 years ago when the ice sheet melted and trees such as hazel, pine, ash and oak returned, bringing with them first birds and mammals and, soon after, the first hunter-gathering humans. The book charts and explains the almost complete withdrawal of tree cover in Scotland over the following millennia, considers the revival of forests and woodlands in the twentieth century, and ends by examining the changes under way now. The book is intended for everyone interested in Scotland's natural history. It calls on an expert in pollen analysis to examine ancient patterns of woodland distribution; on archaeologists to describe how wood was put to good purpose, especially for buildings; on historians and foresters to explain how trees and woods have been exploited and enjoyed over the ages: on ecologists to show how the histories of people and woods are inseparably linked in Scotland; and on a geographer to consider how the Scottish landscape may react to changing policy, attitudes, populations, and climate.The text is fully illustrated by maps and photographs, in colour and black and white. The book has appendixes listing the native and imported species of trees and shrubs in Scotland, and ends with an extensive guide to further reading arranged by subject.

Based on a 20-year survey organised by the Botanical Society of Scotland, this is the most extensive and authoritative Flora of Edinburgh and the Lothians to be published since 1927. In addition to a complete Flora of vascular plants in the three Lothian vice-counties, the book includes: *Specialist chapters on topics ranging from fungi to ferns and from geology and climate to ethnobotany. *A substantial Bryophyte Flora of Edinburgh and the Lothians. *A discussion of land-use changes and the ecological and phytogeographical indications from the survey. *A description of the survey and details of the methods used in the compilation of the Flora. *30 colour and black and white plates, nearly 400 distribution maps and other illustrations. The Lothians are rich in diversity, from the moist uplands of the south to the dry, flat lands of the north-east. Habitats range from seacoast to moorland, from river and loch to woodland and meadow. In addition to this variety, there is the impact of man as manifested by agriculture, urbanisation, industry, and now climate change.Plant Life of Edinburgh and the Lothians presents an up-to-date account of this richness and will provide an essential basis for comparison with the flora and vegetation of the future.

This tabbed booklet focuses on Texas wildflowers, with detailed photographs—organized by color—to help you easily identify the wildflowers you see. At the cabin, in the park, or on a hike, keep this tabbed booklet close at hand. Created by noted botanist and travel writer George Oxford Miller, the booklet features only wildflowers of Texas. When you see a wildflower in nature, open the corresponding colored tab and view photographs of just a few wildflowers at a time. The easy-to-use format and detailed photographs, with key markings of more than 150 species, help to ensure positive ID for even casual observers. The pocket-sized format is much easier to use than laminated foldouts, and the tear-resistant pages help to make the book durable in the field. Book Features: Pocket-size format—easier than laminated foldouts Professional photos of flowers in bloom Similar colors grouped together to ensure that you quickly find what you’re looking for Leaf icons for comparison and identification Easy-to-use information for even casual observers As part of the Adventure Quick Guides series, Wildflowers of Texas is portable and durable. Designed for ease of use, every page in the spiral-bound guide features several full-color, professional-quality images, as well as short blurbs of text that provide the basic details needed for positive identification. Adventure Quick Guides are pocket-sized, so they are convenient to bring along on camping trips and other outings.

He has just a few months to complete his quest - no one has ever done it before within one growing season - and it will require ingenuity, stamina and a large dose of luck.As he battles the vagaries of the British climate, feverishly chasing each emerging bloom, Leif Bersweden takes the reader on a remarkable botanical journey.This study of the 52 native species is a fantastic gateway into the compendious world of orchids - one that will open your eyes to the rare hidden delights to be found on our doorstep.Like Two Owls at Eton and My Family and Other Animals, The Orchid Hunter is a charming account of a precocious adolescent's obsession with the natural world.Leif's enthusiasm for his quest is infectious, as is the quiet conviction with which he keeps at it, showing how plant hunting can be the ultimate mindful activity.