Fall Foliage: The Mystery, Science, and Folklore of Autumn Leaves [Paperback]

Charles W. G. Smith (Author), Frank S Kaczmarek (Photographer)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2005 | Series: Falconguide

Fall Foliage celebrates one of nature's most spectacular, beloved, and fleeting phenomenon. This informal but authoritative guide-part artistic color photography, part science, part travelogue-answers commonly asked questions about foliage: Why do leaves turn yellow, or red? Why do leaves fall? How can you identify trees by their leaves or their bark? Where are the best displays of fall foliage nationwide, and when is peak season?

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Fall Foliage is a celebration of one of nature's most spectacular, beloved, and fleeting phenomena. Equal parts field handbook and travel guide, this visually stunning book features brilliant color photographs and answers commonly asked questions about the changing of the season: Why do leaves turn yellow, or red? Why do leaves fall? How can you identify trees by their leaves or their bark? Where are the best displays of fall foliage nationwide, and when is peak season? From coast to coast, Fall Foliage is the perfect companion for an autumn drive.

About the Author

Charles W. G. Smith, formerly the Natural History Editor at Storey Communications, is the author of several books on topics ranging from gardening to backpacking. He lives in Massachusetts.

Frank Kaczmarek is a professional biologist whose nature photographs have appeared in numerous magazines, calendars, and books. He currently resides in Oakdale, Connecticut.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: FalconGuides; 1st edition (September 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0762727888
• ISBN-13: 978-0762727889
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 7.7 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,015,971 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply a jewel, October 17, 2005

By 

Corinne H. Smith (Athol, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Fall Foliage: The Mystery, Science, and Folklore of Autumn Leaves (Paperback)

In recent years, quite a number of autumnal books have appeared on the market. Featuring beautiful photographs reproduced in brilliant colors, the coffee table tomes and regular-sized volumes now appear on store bookshelves just before the *real* leaves begin to change throughout the landscape. Publishers know that "leaf-peepers" want to take samples of those leaves home with them after seeing them in person. Or perhaps displaced Northerners, missing the four seasons, want visual reminders of home.

This year a new title enters the ranks. It meets the standard set by the others with its exquisite, vibrant images. The difference here is that this book isn't just a collection of pretty pages to gaze upon. It's a working tree and shrub identification guidebook, set in autumn splendor. Traditional guidebooks show leaves and trees of individual species in full summer spread, predominantly green. "Fall Foliage" shows what those leaves and trees typically look like when they change color. 37 native and landscape/non-native species are represented. The latter section of the book is devoted to *where* such fall colors can be seen, outlining key touring spots in about half of the states in the union. (In this effort, I must take a small offense at the omission of Illinois, Iowa and Indiana; for I know after living in the Midwest that tree color can be seen in those states, just not an overwhelming amount of it.) Foliage hotlines and state vacation web sites are listed as well.

A beautiful and useful book that belongs in nature center libraries everywhere, and a must for "leaf-peepers" who want to identify species from the comfort of their automobiles.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "When autumn leaves start to fall...", November 5, 2007

By 

R. DelParto "Rose2" (Virginia Beach, VA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Fall Foliage: The Mystery, Science, and Folklore of Autumn Leaves (Paperback)

One of the first inklings of the autumn season is the distinct change of color of the leaves on the trees. Do you ever wonder why some leaves are yellow, orange, or red? Charles W. G. Smith and Frank Kaczmarek compile a field guide and travel guide of one of nature's wonders, FALL FOLIAGE: THE MYSTERY, SCIENCE, AND FOLKLORE OF AUTUMN LEAVES, and answers the questions of the how and why leaves change a particular color once a year.

Award-winning author and naturalist, Charles W.G. Smith and biologist and nature photographer, Frank Kaczmarek spotlight nature's beauty in this attractive book. Unlike a science textbook that may contain too much information about the subject, Smith presents the subject clearly and concise, which engages the reader to want to know more. He adds general tidbits of historical and trivial significance within the field guide section that corresponds to the trees, shrubs, and vines in a no nonsense presentation that any reader may be able to grasp, such as brief descriptions on preserving autumn leaves and the story behind the Franklin tree; it was interesting to know that foliage only occurs in three regions of the world: parts of Asia, central South America, and North America. And the photographs by Kaczmarek highlight the book, which display the beautiful and vibrant colors of each of the leaf's natural splendor, which almost depict a painting.

The travel guide section is also helpful and puts fall foliage in a regional perspective. Smith and Kaczmarek provide insight and suggestions on what to expect if one decides to go on a driving or hiking excursion to one or more of the regions mentioned in the book. And at the end of the book is a resource section that contains contact information, phone numbers and websites, for several of the locations.

FALL FOLIAGE is a convenient coffee table or carry-along book for road trips. With its impressive content and pictures, the book that may be referenced more than once.

4.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful photos not how to photography book, October 23, 2008

By 

Ferdinand T. Siagian (Orono, ME) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Fall Foliage: The Mystery, Science, and Folklore of Autumn Leaves (Paperback)

The book has beautiful pictures in it but it's basically a biology book with nice pictures. It's not a "how to" photography book. It describes different kinds of tree with pictures of the trees. No photography technique at all. If you want technical photography book this book is not for you. If you enjoy nice tree pictures in the fall and are interested in different kinds of tree, you may like this book.