Tree

‘A whimsical masterpiece of acute observations … a gem’ Literary Review An immersive journey through trees in Japan by celebrated writer Aya Koda – now available in English for the first time ‘Trees are not just living things, but feeling beings, like us. Better keep a watchful eye over them…’ Ezo spruce, hinoki, cherry blossoms. Persimmon, maple, cypress. The trees of Japan cast a spell on those who visit its landscape. But as a child, writer Aya Koda realized they were more than objects of beauty. Gifted a sapling by her father, she learned that we depend on trees as much as they do on us – and spent a lifetime trying to understand them. Mesmerising and poignant, Tree is written in a Japanese genre called zuihitsu which means ‘following the brush’. Here we follow Aya Koda on a journey to discover Japan’s most remarkable trees. As she witnesses landslides and forests of falling ash, she encounters fresh saplings and ancient, ungovernable roots, learning how each tree contains its own unique story. Now translated into English for the first time, Koda’s work echoes down the generations, reminding us that trees hold a mirror to who we are, and what we leave behind.

‘A whimsical masterpiece of acute observations … a gem’ Literary Review An immersive journey through trees in Japan by celebrated writer Aya Koda – now available in English for the first time ‘Trees are not just living things, but feeling beings, like us. Better keep a watchful eye over them…’ Ezo spruce, hinoki, cherry blossoms. Persimmon, maple, cypress. The trees of Japan cast a spell on those who visit its landscape. But as a child, writer Aya Koda realized they were more than objects of beauty. Gifted a sapling by her father, she learned that we depend on trees as much as they do on us – and spent a lifetime trying to understand them. Mesmerising and poignant, Tree is written in a Japanese genre called zuihitsu which means ‘following the brush’. Here we follow Aya Koda on a journey to discover Japan’s most remarkable trees. As she witnesses landslides and forests of falling ash, she encounters fresh saplings and ancient, ungovernable roots, learning how each tree contains its own unique story. Now translated into English for the first time, Koda’s work echoes down the generations, reminding us that trees hold a mirror to who we are, and what we leave behind.

The story of a single tree, from the moment the seed is released from its cone until, more than five hundred years later, it lies on the forest floor as a nurse log, giving life to ferns, mosses, and hemlocks, even as its own life is ending. In this unique biography, David Suzuki and Wayne Grady tell story that spans a millennium and includes a cast of millions but focuses on a single tree, a Douglas fir, Tree describes in poetic detail the organism's modest origins that begin with a dramatic burst of millions of microscopic grains of pollen. The authors recount the amazing characteristics of the species, how they reproduce and how they receive from and offer nourishment to generations of other plants and animals. The tree's pivotal role in making life possible for the creatures around it - including human beings - is lovingly explored. The richly detailed text and Robert Bateman's original art pay tribute to this ubiquitous organism that is too often taken for granted. Revised edition with a foreword by Peter Wohlleben, author of The Hidden Life of Trees.

The story of a single tree, from the moment the seed is released from its cone until, more than five hundred years later, it lies on the forest floor as a nurse log, giving life to ferns, mosses, and hemlocks, even as its own life is ending. In this unique biography, David Suzuki and Wayne Grady tell story that spans a millennium and includes a cast of millions but focuses on a single tree, a Douglas fir, Tree describes in poetic detail the organism's modest origins that begin with a dramatic burst of millions of microscopic grains of pollen. The authors recount the amazing characteristics of the species, how they reproduce and how they receive from and offer nourishment to generations of other plants and animals. The tree's pivotal role in making life possible for the creatures around it - including human beings - is lovingly explored. The richly detailed text and Robert Bateman's original art pay tribute to this ubiquitous organism that is too often taken for granted. Revised edition with a foreword by Peter Wohlleben, author of The Hidden Life of Trees.

Winner of the Council on Botanical and Horticultural Libraries 2025 Award of Excellence in Series As seen in The Guardian, Harper’s Bazaar, and Wall Street Journal ‘It’s no secret that I adore trees. This book is a most glorious cornucopia celebrating our enduring love affair with trees – an uplifting and eye-opening tribute to the way they enrich our lives.’ – Dame Judi Dench An extraordinary collection of more than 300 images celebrating the beauty and diversity of trees This exquisite survey presents a breathtaking sequence of full-page images –from landscape paintings and botanical drawings to ancient frescos, vintage book illustrations and contemporary photographs – revealing the tree as a source of inspiration throughout history. Spanning continents and cultures, Tree reflects the diversity of its subject, depicting giant sequoias, cherry blossoms, palms, poplars, ginkgoes and other species found across Earth’s forest biomes, in a wide-ranging selection of visuals dating from Ancient Greece to the present day. More than 300 images include Roman stone mosaics, illustrated Norse myths, Edo-period woodblock prints and living tree installations, each lavishly reproduced. Curated by an international panel of botanists, naturalists, art historians and other experts, the images expand the definition of botanical art, together forming a vibrant, vital homage to the natural world. Featured artists and contributors include: Ansel Adams, Yann Arthus-Bertrand, Ruth Asawa, Paul Cézanne, Agnes Denes, Albrecht Dürer, Caspar David Friedrich; Global Forest Watch, Andy Goldsworthy, Ernst Haeckel, Utagawa Hiroshige, Frida Kahlo, Yayoi Kusama, Sally Mann, Grandma Moses, Marianne North, Pierre-Joseph Redouté, Daniel Roseberry for Schiaparelli, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Sebastião Salgado, and Yokohama Nursery Co., among others.

An extraordinary collection of more than 300 images celebrating the beauty and diversity of trees This exquisite survey presents a breathtaking sequence of full-page images - from landscape paintings and botanical drawings to ancient frescos, vintage book illustrations and contemporary photographs - revealing the tree as a source of inspiration throughout history. Spanning continents and cultures, Tree reflects the diversity of its subject, depicting giant sequoias, cherry blossoms, palms, poplars, ginkgoes and other species found across Earth's forest biomes, in a wide-ranging selection of visuals dating from Ancient Greece to the present day. More than 300 images include Roman stone mosaics, illustrated Norse myths, Edo-period woodblock prints and living tree installations, each lavishly reproduced. Curated by an international panel of botanists, naturalists, art historians and other experts, the images expand the definition of botanical art, together forming a vibrant, vital homage to the natural world. Featured artists and contributors include: Ansel Adams, Yann Arthus-Bertrand, Ruth Asawa, Paul C?zanne, Agnes Denes, Albrecht D?rer, Caspar David Friedrich; Global Forest Watch, Andy Goldsworthy, Ernst Haeckel, Utagawa Hiroshige, Frida Kahlo, Yayoi Kusama, Sally Mann, Grandma Moses, Marianne North, Pierre-Joseph Redout?, Daniel Roseberry for Schiaparelli, Antoine de Saint-Exup?ry, Sebasti?o Salgado, and Yokohama Nursery Co., among others.