Customer Reviews

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

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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.

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.

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.

I began this book with high hopes, being an obsessive admirer of fall foliage. I was soon disappointed, however, when I realized that the author may as well have been instructing a cub scout meeting. Very little information and inadequate pictures, next to no science at all. Big let-down. I'm glad I bought the cheapest copy available!

You did well with this book. Some great photos taken in this book; well worth the price (new/used from Amazon).