|
Oregon Big Tree & Shrub Measurements
|
a book review by Arthur Lee Jacobson
|
Oregon Big Tree & Shrub Measurements. By Jerry Black. Self-published in 2019 by Jerry Black, Tualatin, Oregon. Softcover. 8.5" x 11" size. 208 pages. 367 photos, most in color. ISBN 978-0-578-59836-9.
|
The brand new self-published book by Jerry Black, Oregon Big Tree & Shrub Measurements, is superb. Most self-published books I've examined look unprofessional to a painful degree. In pleasing contrast, this book is nearly as good as it could have been. The author, a relative newcomer (not an Oregon native; arrived in 2007), did extensive volunteer background work and learning in order to prepare this publication. He was fueled by fascination and passion. His book lists 104 native Oregon species, and 98 non-natives. Unlike most similar big tree compilations, it also includes large shrubs, and historic photos as well as contemporary ones. Moreover, instead of supplying only one or few big trees per species, it often has many. For example, 26 big Douglas Firs, 12 Madrona trees. And it gives trunk circumference as well as diameter. The photos use much more space than the text, and most show a person (usually the author) to provide scale. Most are high quality photos. The paper is #80 coated and appropriate for such usage. The printing and binding are also sound.
|
Besides the A to Z coverage of measured and photographed trees, the book offers a good overview of the prior and current state of Oregon tree measuring. Ample, detailed references, credits and sources are provided. The author spent years, traveling all over Oregon, in all seasons, to do this. The book was done with extreme care. While the writing and photography do not match the acclaimed level of those of the best-selling Thomas Pakenham, the extraordinary breadth of coverage and generally high-quality photo quality results in this book being a worthy coffee-table book. Its value transcends Oregon. Some of the measurements provided are the highest I have seen, which is no easy thing to find. For example, a Black hawthorn 56 feet tall, and an Aspen 136 feet tall.
|
I hope this labor of love and gift to readers, will encourage more awareness, appreciation and protection of remarkably big trees and shrubs. If readers supply the author enough positive feedback, maybe in some years a second edition can be done. I'd like to see still more trees included, such as Deodar Cedar, Flowering Cherry trees, and Eucalyptus. Also, rather than list only one English name per tree, admit more. What most people know as Oregon Myrtle is in the book as California Laurel. (A second edition, copyright 2021, is even better than the first. Lower price, more handy format, more pages, more photos, more trees and shrubs, and even a few vines such as wisteria. It is fun to see Scotch Broom in it. New ISBN: 978-0-578-99986-9)
|
Since the book comes from an online, print-on-demand printing company, it is not easy to obtain. Copies can be ordered from the author, whose e-mail I can provide you if you ask me. The price is $41.99 plus $3.99 shipping and any applicable sales tax. If someone orders 2 or more copies, the price per copy to ship is reduced. The book is well worth its cost.
Back |
|
|
