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Longleaf, Far as the Eye Can See: A New Vision of North America's Richest Forest
Longleaf forests once covered 92 million acres from Texas to Maryland to Florida. These grand old-growth pines were the "alpha tree" of the largest forest ecosystem in North America and have come to define the southern forest. But logging, suppression of fire, destruction by landowners, and a complex web of other factors reduced those forests so that longleaf is now found only on 3 million acres. Fortunately, the stately tree is enjoying a resurgence of interest, and longleaf forests are once again spreading across the South. Blending a compelling narrative by writers Bill Finch, Rhett Johnson, and John C. Hall with Beth Maynor Young's breathtaking photography, Longleaf, Far as the Eye Can See invites readers to experience the astounding beauty and significance of the majestic longleaf ecosystem.
The authors explore the interactions of longleaf with other species, the development of longleaf forests prior to human contact, and the influence of the longleaf on southern culture, as well as ongoing efforts to restore these forests. Part natural history, part conservation advocacy, and part cultural exploration, this book highlights the special nature of longleaf forests and proposes ways to conserve and expand them.
The authors explore the interactions of longleaf with other species, the development of longleaf forests prior to human contact, and the influence of the longleaf on southern culture, as well as ongoing efforts to restore these forests. Part natural history, part conservation advocacy, and part cultural exploration, this book highlights the special nature of longleaf forests and proposes ways to conserve and expand them.
192 pages, Hardcover
First published October 22, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
July 21, 2016
When is a forest also a meadow? How can woods with old growth trees, plants several hundred years old and a hundred feet high, stately pines that in some rare (all too rare) places predate the founding of the United States, also be flooded with sunlight, the floor carpeted with wavy seas of grass and constellations of brilliant wildflowers, even in the height of summer, when other forests are gloomy and dark? When it is a Longleaf Pine forest.
Never heard of the tree? Many outside the south have not and sadly too many today of those living in the American southeast haven’t either. This stately, majestic tree once dominated much of the South from Texas to Florida and north to Maryland. Mostly a tree of the coastal plains it was also found in the Appalachian Mountains. In this gorgeous coffee table book the authors show what once was, how it was lost, and what may be again.
The writers and photographers who produced this book took full advantage of its big size, with many large photos and even two page spreads showing again and again two things; the unique, open understory of the Longleaf Pine forest, with endless rows of tall, straight trunks stretching to the sky above, bare of branches until they reach the canopy, and the bewildering variety of plants and animals that make the meadow-like forest their home. We get gorgeous color photos of the rare Red-cockaded Woodpecker, intimately connected with the Longleaf Pines that provide it with food and shelter. Endless fields of wiregrass, the characteristic understory grass of many of these forests, where one might find the rare Eastern Indigo Snake or if you are lucky, the gopher tortoise, a keystone species of great importance as a variety of animals use the burrows they dig as shelters and homes. Many rare and unusual plants make their home in these sunlit forests, some found nowhere else on Earth. Wonderful photos of such plants as a rare native morning glory called the Dawnflower, the beautiful orchid-like Pinewoods Lily, the brilliant scarlet Cherokee Bean, the spectacular Dragonhead Orchid, the vivid purple Large-Flowered Pennyroyal, the Flameflower, a plant whose entire genus is only found in Longleaf forests, as well as a bewildering variety of insectivorous plants including pitcher plants, sundews, and bladderworts as well as the famous Venus Flytrap, whose home is bogs in Longleaf Pine forest in the Carolinas.
There are photos aplenty of the Longleaf Pine itself, showing its various lifestages, including newly germinated seeds, its famous and unique “grass stage,” the developing “dome” stage of this tree, the firework like sprays of green needles at the tips of their branches, stately forests of old growth pines, and the many ways that the plant is adapted to fire.
Yes I said fire. As much as a rain forest in the Pacific Northwest or the Amazon Basin needs rain, this is a forest created by, shaped, and maintained by fire. It NEEDS fire. The well-written text describes just why fire – preferably growing season natural fires, largely caused by lightning – are vital to keeping these types of forest healthy and the ecosystem one of open understories home to rare plants and animals. To my surprise some trees, generally not able to survive a forest fire, such as a number of species of oak and hickory, are tied not only to the success of Longleaf Pine forests but also to the fires that maintain them. Of the forty species of oaks native to eastern North America, all but two are found within the range of Longleaf and about a quarter are found almost entirely within the range of Longleaf.
This is not just a natural history and ecology book, as human history within the pine woods is covered. We learn about the timber, tar and turpentine industries that depended upon and in the end destroyed most of the forests within their native range. The influence of the trees and the living they generated gave us Sand Tackies, the adjective “tacky,” and the label Tar Heel. Encouragingly, not all uses of the Longleaf Forest were necessarily destructive, as the healthy air and open nature of forests of Longleaf Pine high country gave rise to the famous resorts and golf courses of the south as well as a rich tradition of quail hunting and equestrian activities, all detailed in this book. Also described are the efforts being made to bring back Longleaf Pine forest, whether in small parcels, even inside major cities, or in huge tracts like what once were. In this effort the authors talk about one unexpected ally; the U.S. military.
This book was a quick read but not only to read through quickly, as the photos were wonderful, prompting me to linger on them and plan a trip to these forests to see such a magical place.
Never heard of the tree? Many outside the south have not and sadly too many today of those living in the American southeast haven’t either. This stately, majestic tree once dominated much of the South from Texas to Florida and north to Maryland. Mostly a tree of the coastal plains it was also found in the Appalachian Mountains. In this gorgeous coffee table book the authors show what once was, how it was lost, and what may be again.
The writers and photographers who produced this book took full advantage of its big size, with many large photos and even two page spreads showing again and again two things; the unique, open understory of the Longleaf Pine forest, with endless rows of tall, straight trunks stretching to the sky above, bare of branches until they reach the canopy, and the bewildering variety of plants and animals that make the meadow-like forest their home. We get gorgeous color photos of the rare Red-cockaded Woodpecker, intimately connected with the Longleaf Pines that provide it with food and shelter. Endless fields of wiregrass, the characteristic understory grass of many of these forests, where one might find the rare Eastern Indigo Snake or if you are lucky, the gopher tortoise, a keystone species of great importance as a variety of animals use the burrows they dig as shelters and homes. Many rare and unusual plants make their home in these sunlit forests, some found nowhere else on Earth. Wonderful photos of such plants as a rare native morning glory called the Dawnflower, the beautiful orchid-like Pinewoods Lily, the brilliant scarlet Cherokee Bean, the spectacular Dragonhead Orchid, the vivid purple Large-Flowered Pennyroyal, the Flameflower, a plant whose entire genus is only found in Longleaf forests, as well as a bewildering variety of insectivorous plants including pitcher plants, sundews, and bladderworts as well as the famous Venus Flytrap, whose home is bogs in Longleaf Pine forest in the Carolinas.
There are photos aplenty of the Longleaf Pine itself, showing its various lifestages, including newly germinated seeds, its famous and unique “grass stage,” the developing “dome” stage of this tree, the firework like sprays of green needles at the tips of their branches, stately forests of old growth pines, and the many ways that the plant is adapted to fire.
Yes I said fire. As much as a rain forest in the Pacific Northwest or the Amazon Basin needs rain, this is a forest created by, shaped, and maintained by fire. It NEEDS fire. The well-written text describes just why fire – preferably growing season natural fires, largely caused by lightning – are vital to keeping these types of forest healthy and the ecosystem one of open understories home to rare plants and animals. To my surprise some trees, generally not able to survive a forest fire, such as a number of species of oak and hickory, are tied not only to the success of Longleaf Pine forests but also to the fires that maintain them. Of the forty species of oaks native to eastern North America, all but two are found within the range of Longleaf and about a quarter are found almost entirely within the range of Longleaf.
This is not just a natural history and ecology book, as human history within the pine woods is covered. We learn about the timber, tar and turpentine industries that depended upon and in the end destroyed most of the forests within their native range. The influence of the trees and the living they generated gave us Sand Tackies, the adjective “tacky,” and the label Tar Heel. Encouragingly, not all uses of the Longleaf Forest were necessarily destructive, as the healthy air and open nature of forests of Longleaf Pine high country gave rise to the famous resorts and golf courses of the south as well as a rich tradition of quail hunting and equestrian activities, all detailed in this book. Also described are the efforts being made to bring back Longleaf Pine forest, whether in small parcels, even inside major cities, or in huge tracts like what once were. In this effort the authors talk about one unexpected ally; the U.S. military.
This book was a quick read but not only to read through quickly, as the photos were wonderful, prompting me to linger on them and plan a trip to these forests to see such a magical place.
May 13, 2013
A beautiful book, packed with dreamy photos of longleaf pine, the sad story of our loss of most of this habitat, and some hopeful tales of successful conservations efforts. Wonderful to read at the same time as EO Wilson's "Why We Are Here", which directed me to longleaf habitat in Alabama. I was able to have my copy of this book signed by Rhett Johnson when he spoke about longleaf at NC Botanical Garden, and also signed by EO Wilson at the NC Museum of Natural Science in December - so, it's now a treasure. "Longeaf" directed me to preserves I'm planning to hike during January....looking forward to that.
January 9, 2013
Loved the photos & learning about the tree-- it's marvelous to try to imagine the vast forests that were here once. My little seedling is now just starting to rocket up, and I'm going to look for more to plant to keep it company. Not quite a forest, but I'll do what I can.
August 23, 2023
When I first swung open this large, slim volume, I imagined that I was in for a nice, standard coffee table book. How wrong I was! Did the photographs induce literal gasps as I turned the glossy pages, beautiful as they were? Yes, of course. I expected that much. What surprised me was the extent and depth of history, naturalism, and social biography tucked in among the pages. This is a serious survey of the longleaf pine — not your average coffee table book. And what a treat to find that out! Really brilliantly done. I savored it.
November 5, 2021
Oh my, I'm inspired, encouraged, and much more informed.
I imagine how wonderful it would be to buy a case of this book and send a copy to dozens of people. But, it takes a while to read.
I'd read a few pages and then had so much to think about I'd have to let it simmer.
It makes me wonder if there is a tree forest in the Pacific Northwest that relies on fire and if restored we'd see a significant improvement in our forests.
I imagine how wonderful it would be to buy a case of this book and send a copy to dozens of people. But, it takes a while to read.
I'd read a few pages and then had so much to think about I'd have to let it simmer.
It makes me wonder if there is a tree forest in the Pacific Northwest that relies on fire and if restored we'd see a significant improvement in our forests.
August 12, 2020
Longleaf and Our Nature
A poignant look at what our society needs to do to start repairing the environment. Although this book only considers Longleaf, its basic philosophy can be applied to other regions so that we can make our wilderness whole again.
A poignant look at what our society needs to do to start repairing the environment. Although this book only considers Longleaf, its basic philosophy can be applied to other regions so that we can make our wilderness whole again.
March 23, 2023
A great look at what greed has all but destroyed
May 17, 2023
Pretty pretty pictures and a lovely short dive into the beautiful and unique long leaf pine savanna.
September 30, 2012
Folks it is now available and it exceeds my expectations! Enjoy!
May 12, 2013
Great info, Great photos
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews