A Guardian Best Nature Book of the Year

The magic and mystery of the woods are embedded in culture, from ancient folklore to modern literature. They offer us refuge: a place to play, a place to think. They are the generous providers of timber and energy. They let us dream of other ways of living. Yet we now face a future where taking a walk in the woods is consigned to the tales we tell our children.

Immersing himself in the beauty of woodland Britain, Peter Fiennes explores our long relationship with the woods and the sad and violent story of how so many have been lost. Just as we need them, our woods need us too. But who, if anyone, is looking out for them?

Filled with beautiful color photographs, "Divine Mushrooms and Fungi" is a must-have for anyone who wants to step into the magic mushroom field of ethnomycology. With detailed information on how to distinguish magic mushrooms from potentially dangerous lookalikes, this guide also features a detailed history of the ritual use of magic mushrooms among pre-Columbian inhabitants of the New World and the evolution of the use of psychedelic fungi from sacred rituals to today's recreational use. Common epithets used for naming mushrooms around the world are accompanied by photographs and descriptions of both magic mushrooms and their poisonous lookalikes. An ideal companion for mushroom-gathering forays, "Divine Mushrooms and Fungi" provides readers with the sacred knowledge that can lead to a visionary experience.

The mountains of Caucasia lie between the Black and Caspian Seas and on the boundary between Europe and Asia. They include the highest, most dramatic, least spoiled and least known mountain ranges of the northern hemisphere after the Himalayas and Rockies. The area supports about 6,400 species of vascular plant of which a quarter occur nowhere else (i.e. they are endemic to the region), and about 850 species of vertebrate animal of which some 120 are endemic. This is the highest percentage of endemism in the temperate world, and makes Caucasia one of the most important hotspots of biodiversity on Earth. Mountain Flowers & Trees of Caucasia describes and illustrates in full colour nearly all the wild flowers, trees and shrubs that can be found over 1,000 metres above sea level - 1,009 species. The authors hope that this field guide will encourage you to visit the mountains of Caucasia to delight in their unique and spectacular assemblage of flowering plants, and so contribute to its conservation. The authors include an overview of vegetation in Caucasia, along with a key to families, and keys to genera of selected families. This second edition has increased the number of species described to over a thousand, and adopted the modern systematic order of Plant Families described by the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group to show evolutionary relationships. The order of genera within each Family generally follows that of Flora Europaea. To ease the problem of synonyms, Mountain Flowers not only makes use of The Plant List (tPL), which is easily accessible on line, but gives a substantial list of other synonyms not included in tPL. Each species has a unique number which allows its description, photograph, synonyms and index entry to be easily linked.

From Nikki Van De Car, the best-selling author of Practical Magic, comes a fully-illustrated, enchanted introduction to the witch's world of modern potions, including tinctures, infusions, herbal DIYs, and magically-infused craft cocktails. Witchcraft meets cocktail craft in Potions, a contemporary introduction to the world of infusions, tisanes and herbal teas, homemade tinctures, and expertly mixed alcoholic beverages, all imbued with a healthy dose of everyday enchantment. As with all magic, intention is what makes a potion a potion, and author Nikki Van De Car uses her signature blend of holistic remedies, DIY projects, and accessible magical rituals to guide readers through the wide world of potion-making. From homebrewed kombuchas to crystal-charged cocktails, this fully illustrated guide is an essential addition to the arsenal of kitchen witches and enchanted mixologists. Organized around a series of intentions -- including Creativity, Calm, Love, Harmony, and Protection -- the chapters in this book each include teas, cocktails, kombuchas, non-alcoholic beverages, and DIY components like bitters, shrubs, and infusions, that enhance the reader's spellwork. Every recipe will involve a brief ritual of some kind, whether setting an intention, or using a crystal, sun magic, or moon magic, and each recipe will involve some form of herbal magic. Each cocktail is accompanied by a vibrant, full-color illustration, and each chapter includes longer mystical rituals to support the reader's overall magical practice.

A unique and useful reference guide to some of the more common and best color-producing dye mushrooms of North America. The book includes step-by-step instructions to the process from collecting the mushrooms to dyeing the wool. There is an accurate and up-to-date description for each species along with over 200 color photographs. The scope of this work goes beyond the identification of species. The authors provide information about dyeing equipment, mordants, preparing and dyeing the wool, and the dazzling array of colors that can be obtained from mushroom.

“Unlike the standard nature guides that explain how to recognize common animals, Nature stresses the web of interrelationships that link the regional flora and fauna. This affectionate examination of some of North America’s most spectacular surviving old-growth forests will delight backpackers and armchair naturalists.� —Los Angeles Times Book Review Everything you ever wanted to know about the flora and fauna of Southeast Alaska is contained in the third edition of this lively field guide to the natural world, from bears to banana slugs, mountains to murrelets. The authors, who are both Alaskan residents and biologists, combine scientific research with personal experiences to make a definitive field guide for residents of or visitors to Southeast Alaska. The unique features of the book include: In-depth information about how wildlife coexists with the environment Detailed discussions of mammals, birds, fish, invertebrates, fungi, and plants Detailed map of wilderness areas in Southeast Alaska More than 200 black-and-white illustrations A bibliography, list of common and scientific names, and an index New to this edition: More than 100 new illustrations, many never before published, as well as new maps and photos Major expansion of sections on geology, old-growth forests, marine mammals, and amphibians Fifty-two new sidebars—written in the first person to give the text a more personal touch­—that describe recent findings or experiences. Sweeping updates and elaborations to chapter narratives—often thanks to technology unknown in 1992. In-depth guide to Southeast Alaska’s flora and fauna; more than an identification manual, Nature explores how the species and habitats encountered in the woods and waters of Southeast Alaska fit into the bigger picture.

History, literature, and botany meet in this delightful tour of how humans have relied on plants to nourish, shelter, heal, clothe, and even entertain us. Did you know that During World War II, the US Navy paid kids to collect milkweed's fluffy white floss, which was then used as filling for life preservers? And Native Americans in the deserts of the Southwest traditionally crafted tattoo needles from prickly pear cactus spines. These are just two of the dozens of tidbits that Tammi Hartung highlights in the tales of 45 native North American flowers, herbs, and trees that have rescued and delighted us for centuries.

Nature on the Doorstep reveals the simple pleasures of paying attention to the natural world in one's own backyard over the course of a year. In weekly letters, Angela Douglas shares the joys and curiosities of a decidedly ordinary patch of green in upstate New York cultivated through the art of "strategic neglect"-sometimes taking a hand to manage wildlife, more often letting nature go its own way. From the first flowers of spring to cardinals singing in the winter, Douglas shows us the magic of welcoming unexpected plant and animal life into one's backyard. A paean to the richness we find when we stop to look and let be, Nature on the Doorstep celebrates the role humble backyards play both in conservation efforts and in an expanded appreciation of the living world.

The ancients revered this sacred tree that has existed on Earth for 200 million years - some trees, still alive today, even survived the last ice age. This immortal tree was therefore venerated as the triple goddess of life, death and rebirth, and was believed to be the guardian of our planet. With climate change threatening our existence, many are now turning to the Tree of Life, identified with the ancient yew, for answers to our predicament. Through groundbreaking research, Janis Fry answers our modern yearning to make sense of life through a god/dess of Nature that guides our lives and connects us to people and events, to which we are answerable as custodians of life on Earth. The Cult of the Yew: Tree of Life, Mystery and Magic explores the spiritual history of this iconic tree and aims to change how those who read it think and understand life in these times.

People’s Plants is a scientific review of all of the most important useful plants of southern Africa. It remains the first and only fully illustrated ethnobotanical reference source for southern Africa. In this expanded and updated second edition, traditional and contemporary uses of more than 700 plants are described and illustrated in 20 chapters, each dealing with a specific category of plant use:
• FOODS & DRINKS – (1) Cereals, (2) Seeds & nuts, (3) Fruits & berries, (4) Vegetables, (5) Roots, bulbs & tubers, and (6) Beverages.
• HEALTH & BEAUTY – (7) General medicines, (8) Tonic plants, (9) Mind & mood plants, (10) Women’s health, (11) Wounds, burns & skin conditions, (12) Dental care, (13) Perfumes & repellents, and (14) Soap plants and cosmetics.
• SKILLS & CRAFTS – (15) Hunting & fishing, (16) Dyes and tans, (17) Utility timbers, (18) Fire-making and firewood, (19) Basketry, weaving & ropes, (20) Thatching, mats & brooms.
This fascinating book is a must for anyone interested in useful plants, new crop plants, medicinal plants, new product development, ecotourism, rural development, traditional crafts, African culture, ethnobotany and botany in general.

"Celebrates the power of trees to oxygenate the planet, purify water and air, lower city temperatures, provide habitat, nurture the soul, and provide essential food sources." --Booklist Trees and forests are the number one nature-based solution for revers ing the negative effects of a changing climate. If ever there was a time to be planting trees, that time is now. Inspired by a collective sense of urgency, a global movement to plant trees is gaining momentum. To move the needle, we need to act on a massive scale and plant millions of trees today to have a measurable and lasting impact on billions of lives tomorrow. In Now Is the Time for Trees, the experts at the Arbor Day Foundation will inspire you to do your part by showing you everything you need to know to plant trees at home or in your community. From advice on choosing the right size and type of tree to tried-and-true tips for planting success, this book will help you plant a tree today and leave your own legacy of hope. Equal parts inspiration and advocacy, Now Is the Time for Trees is a rousing call for environmental action and a must-have book for nature lovers everywhere.

Sappi Tree spotting is a new, easy method of tree identification, written for the newcomer to an area, as well as the experienced tree enthusiast. It won't take long before you are able to recognise almost three-quarters of the larger trees you see in the bushveld. Innovative, accurate maps provide precise location information, Colour-coding lists the likely trees you will encounter in each area. The title is based on three innovative concepts - It keeps the terminology simple. The average recreational tree spotter will never use 'pubescent' when 'hairy' will do! Most trees are easy to find, as long as you look for the right trees in the right places. Some trees can be identified easily because of the striking features. These trees do not need a complex system of 'keying' because they are instantly recognisable.

Learn how to de-stress, relax and connect with the wildness you can find on your doorstep even in urban and suburban settings Increasing workload, nervous tension, trouble sleeping? Wondering whether there is more to life? You're not having a mid-life crisis. Like so many others, you are feeling the call of the wild. Today's urban living makes it easy for us to feel divorced from nature. This practical book is filled with 52 varied and inspiring activities illustrated with beautiful colour photographs that will get you out and about whatever the weather. Featuring a combination of creative, culinary, herbal and mindful projects, all with nature at their heart, you'll be surprised how much wildness you can find on your doorstep when you know where to look. Organised by month, Urban Wild's simple, seasonal, step-by-step activities open the door to nature in urban and suburban landscapes to help you increase your potential for health and wellbeing and take your first steps on a journey of discovery towards a lifelong connection with the natural world.

The Story of Trees takes the reader on a visual journey from some of the earliest known tree species on our planet to the latest fruit cultivars.

The chosen trees have all had a profound effect on the planet and humankind. Starting with the Ginkgo biloba, fossils of which date back 270 million years, we learn about how trees came to be integral to the development of our species and how specific trees have become important religious, political and cultural symbols.

With beautiful illustrations by Thibaud Herem and fascinating botanical facts and figures, this book will appeal to tree lovers from all over the world.

Trees and humans essentially want the same thing - to live good, happy, purposeful lives and to flourish. We are inextricably bound. Trees provide us with the necessities of life - they clean the air we breathe, fill us with awe as we walk through forests and provide timber for the houses we live in, yet there are deeper reasons for our arboreal admiration that go beyond utility and beauty. Tree Glee looks at the psychology behind our fascination with trees, examining exactly how they comfort, restore and revitalise us and what we can learn from the wisdom of woodlands to improve our own wellbeing. It explores the importance of trees in our leafy suburbs and urban landscapes, sharing magical stories of remarkable ancient trees across the globe and inviting readers to reflect on their own personal 'treestory'. Featuring captivating photos and with chapters on forest bathing and nature therapy, woodland wellbeing and tree mythology Tree Glee explores how by deepening our appreciation and connection to trees and by celebrating and protecting them, we can flourish together.

Farmers once knew how to make a living fence and fed their flocks on tree-branch hay. Rural people knew how to prune hazel to foster abundance: both of edible nuts and of straight, strong, flexible rods for bridges, walls and baskets. Townspeople cut beeches to make charcoal to fuel ironworks. Shipwrights shaped oaks to make hulls. In order to prosper communities cut their trees so they would sprout again. Pruning the trees didn't destroy them. Rather, it created healthy, sustainable and diverse woodlands. From these woods came the poetic landscapes of Shakespeare's England and of ancient Japan. The trees lived longer. William Bryant Logan travels from the English fens to Spain, California and Japan to rediscover and celebrate what was once a common and practical ecology-finding hope that humans may again learn what the persistence and generosity of trees can teach.

Wandering the woods in search of mushrooms is one of life's great pleasures. But be careful to pick the right ones With "Edible Mushrooms" in your backpack, you'll know to pick only the safest, most delicious chanterelles, truffles, morels, and more. Author Barbro Forsberg presents forty edible species and reveals how, when, and where to find them--knowledge gained over the course of four decades spent mushrooming in the woods.
Discover such aspects of mushrooming as:
Characteristics of edible mushrooms, per species
Cooking, cleaning, and drying the day's bounty
Edible, inedible, or toxic? Photographs and descriptions for what to pick and what to avoid
Poisonous varieties and how to recognize them
All content has been verified by a professional mycologist. Plus, nature and educational photographs illustrate how mushrooms grow, the environments where you can expect to find them, and the ways in which the same species may vary from one sample to the next. So whether you're an experienced mushroom hunter or a novice to the art, with "Edible Mushrooms" you can confidently recognize, pick, and eat the tastiest wild mushrooms.

Benut ons Inheemse Bome is ongetwyfeld die nuttigste en mees praktiese boek wat oor die onderwerp in Suid-Afrika gepubliseer is.
Hierdie derde en hersiene uitgawe bevat 22 meer boomspesies. Die 163 boomsoorte is alfabeties volgens botaniese naam gerangskik, met meer as 850 volkleur foto’s geïllustreer en volledig bespreek.
Die volgende inligting is vir elke boomsoort ingesluit:
'n Inleidende afdeling oor die kweek van bome deur saad, steggies en stamsteggies.
'n Volledige spesiebeskrywing, kenmerke waaraan die boom uitgeken kan word, blom- en dratye, natuurlike verspreiding en habitat.
Die ekologiese rol en benutting deur soogdiere, voëls en insekte.
Ekonomiese waarde en gebruik deur die mens in tuine, op plase en elders as ’n bron van voedsel, vesel en medikasie.
Eienskappe van die hout en benutting daarvan deur die mens.
Duidelike riglyne oor die ent en kweek van elke boomsoort.
'n Kaart wat die natuurlike verspreiding van elke boomsoort aandui.
Meer as 850 volkleur foto’s wat met sorg uitgesoek is om die teks te komplementeer en te illustreer.
Die boek bevat ’n tabel wat boombenutting deur diere, voëls en insekte saamvat, bronverwysings en ’n indeks van algemene en botaniese name.
Hierdie waardevolle inheemse boomgids behoort die naslaan- en gebruiksbron te wees van elke tuinier, boer, natuurliefhebber, boomkweker, bosbouer en natuurbewaarder – trouens enigeen met ’n liefde en waardering vir bome.

Ook in Engels beskikbaar: Making the Most of Indigenous Trees

Learn to identify wildflowers in North Carolina and South Carolina with this handy field guide, organized by color. With this famous field guide by professional nature photographers Nora and Rick Bowers and by award-winning author and naturalist Stan Tekiela, you can make wildflower identification simple, informative, and productive. There's no need to look through dozens of photos of wildflowers that don't grow in the Carolinas. Learn about 200 of the most common and important species found in the region. They're organized by color and then by size for ease of use. Fact-filled information contains the particulars that you want to know, while full-page photographs provide the visual detail needed for accurate identification. Book Features 200 species: Only North and South Carolina wildflowers! Simple color guide: See a purple flower? Go to the purple section Fact-filled information and stunning professional photographs Icons that make visual identification quick and easy Nature Notes, including naturalist tidbits and facts This new edition includes updated photographs, expanded information, and even more expert naturalist insights. Grab Wildflowers of the Carolinas Field Guide for your next outing-to help you positively identify the wildflowers that you see.