April 15, 2010
Beresford-Kroeger ("Arboretum America") has concocted a strange brew: a collection of 40 essays, each no more than three pages, that explore the medicinal, ecological, nutritional, and mythic properties of trees. The authora botanist, medical and agricultural researcher, and self-described "renegade scientist"considers the invisible life of the forest and shows the myriad connections among humanity, forest, and everything else. She provides fascinating accounts of the micro processes of trees and makes intriguing arguments for using these "chemical factories" to healthy advantage. But her eclectic approach of moving to and fro between "hard" plant science and the "soft" tree lore finds curious expression in a language at times exact and other times murky. Also, the title is somewhat misleading because the emphasis is clearly on North American silva, and only a few species are discussed in depth. VERDICT At its best, this work resonates like lyric poetry; at its worst, it devolves into New Age twaddle. Beresford-Kroeger's work is sui generis; readers looking for tree lore might try Diana Wells's "Lives of the Trees" and for a global, more scientific treatment, Colin Tudge's "The Tree".Robert Eagan, Windsor P.L., Ont.
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