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The Complete Language of Trees: A Definitive and Illustrated History (Volume 12)
The Complete Language of Trees is a comprehensive encyclopedia providing the meanings, powers, facts, and folklore for over 400 types of trees. Along with a stunning visual depiction , each entry provides the tree’s scientific and commonname , characteristics , historic and hidden properties from mythology, legends, and folklore .
Some of the lore of trees will Imagine developing a spiritual connection with a tree in a way that exceeds visual perception? Where learning its meaning and value simultaneously improves your own mental and physical wellness?Throughout history, floriographies —flower dictionaries—have gained notoriety for regulating human emotions; giving depth, symbolism, and meaning to extremely delicate aspects of nature .Following the success of The Complete Language of Herbs and its predecessor The Complete Language of Flowers , authorS. Theresa Dietzcontinues this custom with The Complete Language of Trees . Coupled with two indexes , one for searching by common tree name and the other organized by meaning , Dietz cleverly connects quality time in nature with the overall improvement of mental health by developing astunningly depicted dictionary for gardeners, environmentalists, and nature lovers alike.
Elegantly designed and beautifully illustrated, the Complete Illustrated Encyclopedia series offers comprehensive, display-worthy references on a range of intriguing topics, including birthday astrology, dream interpretation, astrological self-care practices, techniques for harnessing the power of dreams, and the stories behind signs and symbols.
Some of the lore of trees will Imagine developing a spiritual connection with a tree in a way that exceeds visual perception? Where learning its meaning and value simultaneously improves your own mental and physical wellness?Throughout history, floriographies —flower dictionaries—have gained notoriety for regulating human emotions; giving depth, symbolism, and meaning to extremely delicate aspects of nature .Following the success of The Complete Language of Herbs and its predecessor The Complete Language of Flowers , authorS. Theresa Dietzcontinues this custom with The Complete Language of Trees . Coupled with two indexes , one for searching by common tree name and the other organized by meaning , Dietz cleverly connects quality time in nature with the overall improvement of mental health by developing astunningly depicted dictionary for gardeners, environmentalists, and nature lovers alike.
Elegantly designed and beautifully illustrated, the Complete Illustrated Encyclopedia series offers comprehensive, display-worthy references on a range of intriguing topics, including birthday astrology, dream interpretation, astrological self-care practices, techniques for harnessing the power of dreams, and the stories behind signs and symbols.
256 pages, Hardcover
Published March 28, 2023
17 people are currently reading
228 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
September 17, 2024
A handy tool for those out on a wander - although to see all the trees in this book, the wander would need to be worldwide! The arrangement is alphabetical by the latin name of each tree, for example (with each tree - around 400) using this same format - was great fun for comparisons:
Alnus Glutinosa aka Common Alder
*lists potential max height
*calls out symbolic meanings (Giving; King of the Woods; Nurturing)
*calls out Possible Powers (so many! Air element. . . .all the way to Wind Magic)
Then my favorite section � Folklore and Facts � for this tree just a few of the F&F gathered are “Common Alder trees can live to be approximately 160 years old. . . .Nearly all of the pilings that support the city of Venice, Italy are made of Alder wood. . . . .It was once unlawful to cut down an Alder tree in Ireland. . . .Alder wood is a fine choice for a self-protective healing wand. . ."
A delight for a trivia buff, tree lovers, wand makers, woodworkers, plant lovers of stripes - this is not the book to pick up to plant the nursery items you just bought, or find out the pros and cons of plantings in your area of the world. But this IS a fun smorgasbook when you need something entirely different.
More of my favorites:
Pistacia vera. . .Pistachio Tree � Folklore and Facts: Once established will grow for 100 years or more; to bring a zombie out of its trance. . .give it Pistachio nuts dyed red!
Umbellularia californica � California Bay Laurel � Symbolic Meanings: Agitation; Amibition; Ambitious; Beware; Danger � Printed coins on discs of this wood were once used as currency to pay employees in 1933 banking emergency at First National in North Bend, Oregon
Taxodium mucronatum . . .Montezuma Cypress � Symbolic Meanings: Nobility; Old man of the water. Folklore � important to the ancient Aztecs who planted the deciduous Montezuma Cypress along their processional paths and canals
Xylopia aethiopica . . .Ethiopian Pepper Tree � Possible Power: Create Oxygen, Purification
This book was a delightful surprise! The unexpected on every page (is the Queen of Sheba mentioned in this book? yep. Will Lilacs keep away ghosts? yep. Mahogany for ships in the 1800s why? best wood for resisting gunshots. Buckthorn makes wishes come true? yep, if you follow the complicated recipe herein!) A grand conversation starter - keep one in your backpack or on the shelf.
*A sincere thank you to S. Theresa Dietz, Quarto Publishing Group - Wellfleet Press, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review independently.* #TheCompleteLanguageofTreesPocketEdition #NetGalley
Alnus Glutinosa aka Common Alder
*lists potential max height
*calls out symbolic meanings (Giving; King of the Woods; Nurturing)
*calls out Possible Powers (so many! Air element. . . .all the way to Wind Magic)
Then my favorite section � Folklore and Facts � for this tree just a few of the F&F gathered are “Common Alder trees can live to be approximately 160 years old. . . .Nearly all of the pilings that support the city of Venice, Italy are made of Alder wood. . . . .It was once unlawful to cut down an Alder tree in Ireland. . . .Alder wood is a fine choice for a self-protective healing wand. . ."
A delight for a trivia buff, tree lovers, wand makers, woodworkers, plant lovers of stripes - this is not the book to pick up to plant the nursery items you just bought, or find out the pros and cons of plantings in your area of the world. But this IS a fun smorgasbook when you need something entirely different.
More of my favorites:
Pistacia vera. . .Pistachio Tree � Folklore and Facts: Once established will grow for 100 years or more; to bring a zombie out of its trance. . .give it Pistachio nuts dyed red!
Umbellularia californica � California Bay Laurel � Symbolic Meanings: Agitation; Amibition; Ambitious; Beware; Danger � Printed coins on discs of this wood were once used as currency to pay employees in 1933 banking emergency at First National in North Bend, Oregon
Taxodium mucronatum . . .Montezuma Cypress � Symbolic Meanings: Nobility; Old man of the water. Folklore � important to the ancient Aztecs who planted the deciduous Montezuma Cypress along their processional paths and canals
Xylopia aethiopica . . .Ethiopian Pepper Tree � Possible Power: Create Oxygen, Purification
This book was a delightful surprise! The unexpected on every page (is the Queen of Sheba mentioned in this book? yep. Will Lilacs keep away ghosts? yep. Mahogany for ships in the 1800s why? best wood for resisting gunshots. Buckthorn makes wishes come true? yep, if you follow the complicated recipe herein!) A grand conversation starter - keep one in your backpack or on the shelf.
*A sincere thank you to S. Theresa Dietz, Quarto Publishing Group - Wellfleet Press, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review independently.* #TheCompleteLanguageofTreesPocketEdition #NetGalley
August 31, 2024
Book Review: The Complete Language of Trees - Pocket Edition by S. Theresa Dietz
Rating: 3 Stars
I recently had the pleasure of reviewing the Pocket Edition of The Complete Language of Trees by S. Theresa Dietz, and I have to say, this book would make a delightful companion for anyone who shares a passion for nature and trees.
The book serves as a comprehensive encyclopedia that dives into the meanings, powers, and folklore associated with over 400 types of trees. Each entry is not only filled with detailed descriptions, including both scientific and common names, but also features beautiful illustrations that make it a treat for the eyes. I loved how Dietz has woven together history, mythology, and facts to create a rich tapestry of information that enhances our understanding of these magnificent beings.
What I found particularly intriguing is how Dietz encourages readers to develop a spiritual connection with trees. She suggests that by learning about a tree's significance and properties, we can improve our own mental and physical wellness. It's an inspiring notion that emphasizes the importance of nature in our lives, reminding us that there’s so much more to trees than just their physical presence.
What really stood out to me was the clever organization of the book. With two indexes—one for common names and another organized by meaning—it's incredibly user-friendly. This makes it easy for anyone, whether you're a gardener, an environmentalist, or just a curious nature lover, to find what they’re looking for quickly.
Now, I want to emphasize that my review specifically pertains to the pocket edition of this book. This version follows the same engaging format as Dietz's previous works in the "Complete Language of..." series, like The Complete Language of Herbs and The Complete Language of Flowers. It’s packed full of information and stunning illustrations that make it a useful tool to take along on any outdoor adventure. I can easily see myself flipping through its pages while sitting under a tree or hiking through a forest.
Overall, while I thoroughly enjoyed The Complete Language of Trees, I did feel that with so much information packed into a pocket-sized book, it can occasionally feel overwhelming. However, that doesn’t take away from its quality or usefulness. Thus, I’m giving it a solid three stars out of five. If you’re someone who cherishes nature or wants to deepen your understanding of trees, I highly recommend adding this beautifully crafted resource to your collection!
⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️
Rating: 3 Stars
I recently had the pleasure of reviewing the Pocket Edition of The Complete Language of Trees by S. Theresa Dietz, and I have to say, this book would make a delightful companion for anyone who shares a passion for nature and trees.
The book serves as a comprehensive encyclopedia that dives into the meanings, powers, and folklore associated with over 400 types of trees. Each entry is not only filled with detailed descriptions, including both scientific and common names, but also features beautiful illustrations that make it a treat for the eyes. I loved how Dietz has woven together history, mythology, and facts to create a rich tapestry of information that enhances our understanding of these magnificent beings.
What I found particularly intriguing is how Dietz encourages readers to develop a spiritual connection with trees. She suggests that by learning about a tree's significance and properties, we can improve our own mental and physical wellness. It's an inspiring notion that emphasizes the importance of nature in our lives, reminding us that there’s so much more to trees than just their physical presence.
What really stood out to me was the clever organization of the book. With two indexes—one for common names and another organized by meaning—it's incredibly user-friendly. This makes it easy for anyone, whether you're a gardener, an environmentalist, or just a curious nature lover, to find what they’re looking for quickly.
Now, I want to emphasize that my review specifically pertains to the pocket edition of this book. This version follows the same engaging format as Dietz's previous works in the "Complete Language of..." series, like The Complete Language of Herbs and The Complete Language of Flowers. It’s packed full of information and stunning illustrations that make it a useful tool to take along on any outdoor adventure. I can easily see myself flipping through its pages while sitting under a tree or hiking through a forest.
Overall, while I thoroughly enjoyed The Complete Language of Trees, I did feel that with so much information packed into a pocket-sized book, it can occasionally feel overwhelming. However, that doesn’t take away from its quality or usefulness. Thus, I’m giving it a solid three stars out of five. If you’re someone who cherishes nature or wants to deepen your understanding of trees, I highly recommend adding this beautifully crafted resource to your collection!
⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️
September 14, 2024
This is a lovely, lovely book. Can I say that again? A lovely book.
I enjoyed leafing through the pages, with a feast of trees and shrubs and facts. There is only one illustration per tree, and not all have one in my e-ARC. So use a tree guide to identify a new tree. The pages are laid out by Latin names, which keeps the citrus together and birch together, etc. but doesn't follow families of trees otherwise.
The interesting part is where facts and folklore are presented together. It may be a fact that hawthorn was considered lucky for brides, and otherwise unlucky to pick, but saying that hawthorn is influenced by such an element or brings good fortune is folklore, and it's left to the reader to distinguish. The ash was the Yggdrasil tree of the Norse. Some trees have the location given, but some do not. I thought an indicator of general origin would be helpful on all.
A small icon above each tree indicates if it is toxic, edible (sometimes both) or what other uses are made of it. We also learn if the tree is long-lived.
I think it's charming to give the folk beliefs associated with the tree, because these might die out otherwise, and may be the reason the tree still survives.
I read an e-ARC from Net Galley. This is an unbiased review.
I enjoyed leafing through the pages, with a feast of trees and shrubs and facts. There is only one illustration per tree, and not all have one in my e-ARC. So use a tree guide to identify a new tree. The pages are laid out by Latin names, which keeps the citrus together and birch together, etc. but doesn't follow families of trees otherwise.
The interesting part is where facts and folklore are presented together. It may be a fact that hawthorn was considered lucky for brides, and otherwise unlucky to pick, but saying that hawthorn is influenced by such an element or brings good fortune is folklore, and it's left to the reader to distinguish. The ash was the Yggdrasil tree of the Norse. Some trees have the location given, but some do not. I thought an indicator of general origin would be helpful on all.
A small icon above each tree indicates if it is toxic, edible (sometimes both) or what other uses are made of it. We also learn if the tree is long-lived.
I think it's charming to give the folk beliefs associated with the tree, because these might die out otherwise, and may be the reason the tree still survives.
I read an e-ARC from Net Galley. This is an unbiased review.
July 30, 2024
The folklore idea piqued my interest and I tried to give this book a go. A little disappointing to see the quality of illustrations. Some trees don't have any either. In order to be useful to anyone, we should have some identifying characteristics of the trees mentioned in the book itself but there is none.
Symbolic meanings and powers could have really been improvised. Expanded into how people used them for the actual symbolic powers instead of just mentioning, "Fire element" and "dreams". They just seem like a bunch of nonsensical words. It just needed... more. The few mentions of the spiritual uses in folklore and facts were negligible.
Folklore and facts were okay. Very limited information on benefits or purpose of the trees mentioned so I'm not sure how this book could be used.
Thanks to the publisher for a review copy.
Symbolic meanings and powers could have really been improvised. Expanded into how people used them for the actual symbolic powers instead of just mentioning, "Fire element" and "dreams". They just seem like a bunch of nonsensical words. It just needed... more. The few mentions of the spiritual uses in folklore and facts were negligible.
Folklore and facts were okay. Very limited information on benefits or purpose of the trees mentioned so I'm not sure how this book could be used.
Thanks to the publisher for a review copy.
September 13, 2024
After seeing the title of this book, I was extremely excited to read it, but unfortunately, this book really fell flat for me. Based on the title, I was expecting to read an in-depth history of trees and explanations of humanity's spiritual connection to different trees throughout history. Instead, there were just a few words written about each tree's symbolism and brief bits about their related folklore. It really needs to contain more factual information. At the very least, it needs to state where each tree's native habitat can be found.
November 21, 2024
Fantastic resource for historical folklore and factual tidbits on trees. The magical suggestions are a nice touch and are based on their symbolic meanings and not so much on speculation and guesses which is refreshing to see!
April 29, 2025
Quite an amazing number of trees covered in this book. Very interesting tid bits of information about the trees.
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