Customer Reviews

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

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This is a very readable and extensively researched look at the trees of Washington D.C. It's an excellent field guide for identifying trees, but the thing I like most about it is that it tells the fascinating stories behind so many of the trees planted in D.C. If you live near D.C. and have even a mild interest in its history, I strongly recommend this book!

I originally bought Melanie Choukas-Bradley's CITY OF TREES in its hardcover coffee-table edition and have followed its evolution since. As a Washingtonian of some thirty years' standing, I was originally unaware that this beautiful city was ever known as the City of Trees, but now that I've read Melanie's book, I've looked at the city through different eyes. Though the cherry blossoms are the best-known trees of the city, there's so much more, from the sights in every neighborhood through the rich diversity of our parks. DC is a beautiful city, and there's not nearly enough in print to show and share that beauty. Get this book.

Having worn out my copy of the second edition, I put this edition on my Christmas list. It does not disappoint. A cross between a tour guide and a field guide, it's just the right size for carrying around on your expeditions. You'll learn about the capital's history as well as its magnificent trees.

If you live in DC, or visit regularly, you've probably wondered, what are those lovely trees in that park I always walk past? If you tried to identify them with one of the usual field guides, such as Peterson, you probably didn't get far because so many of DC's trees are Asian and European species. 'City of Trees' is almost guaranteed to solve the mystery. I also enjoy taking the book along on visits to the DC area's many beautiful outdoor monuments and parks. It's much more than a guide to trees. For example, the section on Mount Vernon gives us a nutshell history, with emphasis on George Washington's interest in trees, noting a number of trees dating to his lifetime that still stand on the grounds. This book is a worthwhile addition to your tote bag whenever you're doing the tourist thing in DC.