TreeNotes: A Year in the Company of Trees

“Some of us were born to love trees—and want to understand them and protect them—and Nalini Nadkarni is such a person. These precious morsels of tree lore in her book will keep you turning the pages and pondering the arboreal beings we share our planet with.” —Joan Maloof, PhD, founder of the Old-Growth Forest Network “Trees nourish and sustain our planet, captivate us with their stunning beauty, and inspire us with their steadfastness and resilience. In TreeNotes, scientist, master storyteller and National Geographic Explorer at Large Nalini Nadkarni takes readers on an unforgettable journey into the world of trees, galvanizing people of all backgrounds to celebrate the boundless power and possibilities of the natural world.” —Jill Tiefenthaler, CEO, National Geographic Society “TreeNotes takes us around the world and through the seasons to appreciate our amazing arboreal world. Nadkarni weaves wonderful stories, from pines to peaches, and from architecture to acorns to ants. This series of essays will give every reader a special appreciation and love for the green giants of the world: trees!” —Meg Lowman, National Geographic Explorer and author of The Arbornaut: A Life Discovering the 8th Continent in the Trees Above Us “This book is the faithful fulfillment of a promise made by Nadkarni as a child to her future self, to ‘do something to cherish and protect trees.’ She kept her commitment well, and TreeNotes is a beautiful manifestation, both educational and inspirational. As its title suggests, the book comes in the form of notes—short observations—that are easily digestible yet immensely thought-provoking. TreeNotes stands as an essential reminder of our interconnectedness with trees and a suggestion to notice them anew.” —Joshua Friend, Editor, American Woodturner “Reading this book is like being welcomed into a lively conversation. Nalini Nadkarni's lifelong affection for trees combines with a bubbling curiosity to create an intriguing and immensely enjoyable sequence of seasonal TreeNotes. From the maples she loved as a child to Leonard Bernstein's maple baton (later exchanged for birch), this generous book ranges easily through time and space. From the personal to the global, everything is arboreal.” —Fiona Stafford, author of The Long, Long Life of Trees “TreeNotes: A Year in the Company of Trees comes from a lifetime of learning and loving trees around the world. Ecologist Nalini Nadkarni offers a moving meditation on the many roles that trees play in our lives. Each essay invites the reader to pause and be present in wonder, admiration, and curiosity.” —Lauren E. Oakes, author of Treekeepers and In Search of the Canary Tree “Reading this book, I felt as if I was truly climbing trees with Nalini Nadkarni as together we explored the wonder, biology, and historical and cultural significance of trees of many species. Becoming a ‘tree detective’ with Nadkarni helps readers see the connections we humans share with trees—and with all of nature—and why we should care about protecting our planet and ourselves.” —Brian Berman MD, President of the Nova Institute for Health and Professor Emeritus, Family and Community Medicine, University of Maryland “This is the perfect book for the budding tree ecologist, or really anyone interested in trees. Each of the TreeNotes episodes offers a fascinating piece of information about the wonderful world of trees, and makes you want to go to your internet browser to learn more.” —Dennis Schatz, Senior Fellow, Institute of Learning Innovation, and past president, National Science Teaching Association “In this slim volume, Nalini Nadkarni shares with us a set of insightful comments on attributes of trees, plants that she has loved all her life. From her climbing backyard maples as nine-year old for the following sixty years, Nalini has had a special interest in learning about trees throughout the world. The 42 essays in this volume are as varied and delightful as one could wish, together adding up to a fine collection: highly recommended!” —Peter H. Raven, President Emeritus, Missouri Botanical Garden “From childhood tree-climber to forest surveyor and tree-canopy scientist, Dr. Nalini Nadkarni shares sweet, accessible stories that rekindle childhood wonder and open our eyes to the trees around us—past and present. Trees that have taught us about Earth’s history and daily provide clean air and water, shelter, jobs, food, shade and much more—for ants, birds, humans, and so many of earth’s wonderfully diverse species. This fun little book inspires us to revel in nature’s diversity, interconnectedness, and value.” —Sally Jewell, U.S. Secretary of the Interior (2013–17)