City of Trees: The Complete Field Guide to the Trees of Washington, D.C., Third Edition

Center Books

by Melanie Choukas-Bradley, Polly Alexander (Illustrator)

Washington, D.C., boasts more than three hundred species of trees from America, Europe, Africa, and Asia, and City of Trees has been the authoritative guide for locating, identifying, and learning about them for more than twenty-five years. The third edition is fully revised, updated, and expanded and includes an eloquent new foreword by the Washington Post ’s garden editor, Adrian Higgins. In the introduction, Choukas-Bradley describes the efforts of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and other prominent Washingtonians who helped the nation’s capital evolve into the "City of Trees," a moniker regaining popularity thanks to present-day efforts encouraging citizen participation in tree planting and maintenance. Part 1 gives the reader a guided tour of the nation’s capital, highlighting historic and rare trees of the urban canopy. Part 2 is a comprehensive, simply worded, and fully illustrated botanical guide to the magnificent trees of the nation’s capital and surroundings. The guide also includes botanical keys, an illustrated glossary, exquisite pen-and-ink drawings by Polly Alexander, and color close-up photographs of flowering trees, many by the nationally acclaimed photographer Susan A. Roth. What to look for in the new * Added the FDR Memorial; the Smithsonian Institution gardens; the Tudor Place grounds; the Bishop’s Garden of the Washington National Cathedral; Audubon Naturalist Society sanctuaries; and much more. * "City of Trees" history from 1987 to 2007, including the establishment of Casey Trees and the importance of the urban canopy in the twenty-first century. * Twice as many pages of color photographs, new species descriptions and illustrations, and added habitat information. Published in association with the Center for American Places

Genres: Nature, Nonfiction

448 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1987

Reviews

[G · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book years ago when learning trees, and it is hands-down one of the best books for doing so. Intuitive organization, accurate descriptions, and notes where in the city the trees are most common. This guide was clearly a labor of love for the authors, and the product is remarkable.

It is particularly invaluable because it includes ALL the trees you can find in the city, even ones that are only found on streets or planted as decor. Unfortunately many (inferior) tree guides only include "natural" trees in forests and are therefore useless in a city.

[Dylan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an absolute gem and a necessary companion for your daily Washington constitutionals. They have packed in incredible detail and insights into the Washington landscape in this single volume. Must buy. The sublime organization of the index alone is worth five stars.

[Naomi Ayala · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gift of a book.