Westerly Sun Column | Books About Trees Will Leave You Thankful

I’m not one to shy away from manual labor, but, boy, do I hate raking leaves. Absolutely loathe it. There was a moment the other day when, as I gazed at the leaves prematurely littering the ground in my yard, I found myself silently cursing the trees for dropping them. Of course, I immediately backpedaled, but I’ve been feeling guilty ever since! Trees give us oxygen and food, they cool our homes and provide shade and shelter. Sure, raking leaves is a cruel and unusual form of punishment, but it’s a small price to pay for apple pie and breathable air! So, take this column, an ode to our wonderful trees, as a form of repentance for my unkind thoughts.

One of my favorite things about working at the library is lunching in the park, mercifully shaded by the branches above. Wilcox Park, of course, is revered for its beautiful and historic trees, which include a number of Champions — the largest of their kind in the state. The most impressive is undoubtedly the white oak which, at more than 350 years old, is more than a century older than our nation. I encourage everyone to check out the virtual map of the trees on our website, or you can join the Master Gardeners for a guided tour of the park every other Saturday through October to learn more about the impressive species.

If you’re not yet tired of reading about trees, there have been some fascinating books about them written over the last few years. In “The Arbornaut,” Meg Lowman takes readers on an adventure into the “eighth continent” of the world’s treetops. “Finding the Mother Tree” by ecologist Suzanne Simard delves into her research of “Mother Trees”, the largest and oldest trees in the forest that share resources and communicate with the younger plants around them. Her work actually inspired another book: “The Overstory,” an award-winning novel by Richard Powers that tells the story of nine interconnected people and the trees they fight to protect. This is just a snapshot ... we have many other fascinating books in our collection!

Fittingly, this Wednesday we begin our three-part film series in partnership with Green Planet Films, and we’ll be showing “Forest for the Trees — The Tree Planters.” This documentary focuses on a community of Canadian West Coast tree-planters, depicting the physical and emotional aspects of their work, as well as the contradictions in their individual experiences. The screening is free and open to all ages, though it should be noted that the film would likely be rated PG, as it includes numerous scenes that portray cigarette smoking. Popcorn will be provided, and our friends from Green Planet Films will give a brief introduction at the beginning of the movie. While you’re here, check out some of our tree-related books or take a lap around the park — but, kindly ignore any of the leaves that our mighty friends have dropped.

by Cassie Skobrak, Adult Services Librarian