The Tree Collectors: Tales of Arboreal Obsession

Fifty vignettes of remarkable people whose lives have been transformed by their obsessive passion for trees--written and charmingly illustrated by the New York Times bestselling author of The Drunken Botanist

When Amy Stewart discovered a community of tree collectors, she expected to meet horticultural fanatics driven to plant every species of oak or maple. But she also discovered that the urge to collect trees springs from something deeper and more profound: a longing for community, a vision for the future, or a path to healing and reconciliation.

In this slyly humorous, informative, often poignant volume, Stewart brings us captivating stories of people who spend their lives in pursuit of rare and wonderful trees and are transformed in the process. Vivian Keh has forged a connection to her Korean elders through her persimmon orchard. The former poet laureate W. S. Merwin planted a tree almost every day for more than three decades, until he had turned a barren estate into a palm sanctuary. And Joe Hamilton cultivates pines on land passed down to him by his once-enslaved great-grandfather, building a legacy for the future.

Stewart populates this lively compendium with her own hand-drawn watercolor portraits of these extraordinary people and their trees, interspersed with side trips to investigate famous tree collections, arboreal glossaries, and even tips for "unauthorized" forestry. This book is a stunning tribute to a devoted group of nature lovers making their lives--and the world--more beautiful, one tree at a time.

Author: Amy Stewart
Publisher: Random House
Published: 07/16/2024
Pages: 336
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.25lbs
ISBN: 9780593446850


Review Citation(s):
Library Journal Prepub Alert 01/01/2024 pg. 12

About the Author
Amy Stewart is the New York Times bestselling author of The Drunken Botanist, Wicked Plants, and several other popular nonfiction titles about the natural world. She's also written seven novels in her beloved Kopp Sisters series, based on the true story of one of America's first female deputy sheriffs. She lives in Portland, Oregon.