Author: Christopher Abram Publisher: University of Virginia Press ISBN: 0813942284 Category : Literary Criticism Languages : en Pages : 380
Book Description
Norse mythology is obsessed with the idea of an onrushing and unstoppable apocalypse: Ragnarok, when the whole of creation will perish in fire, smoke, and darkness and the earth will no longer support the life it once nurtured. Most of the Old Norse texts that preserve the myths of Ragnarok originated in Iceland, a nation whose volcanic activity places it perpetually on the brink of a world-changing environmental catastrophe. As the first full-length ecocritical study of Old Norse myth and literature, Evergreen Ash argues that Ragnarok is primarily a story of ecological collapse that reflects the anxieties of early Icelanders who were trying to make a home in a profoundly strange, marginal, and at times hostile environment. Christopher Abram here contends that Ragnarok offers an uncanny foreshadowing of our current global ecological crisis—the era of the Anthropocene. Ragnarok portends what may happen when a civilization believes that nature can be mastered and treated only as a resource to be exploited for human ends. The enduring power of the Ragnarok myth, and its relevance to life in the era of climate change, lies in its terrifying evocation of a world in which nothing is what it was before, a world that is no longer home to us—and, thus, a world with no future. Climate change may well be our Ragnarok.
Author: Edward Parker Publisher: Reaktion Books ISBN: 1789143578 Category : Science Languages : en Pages : 217
Book Description
Ash is a beautifully illustrated account of the botanical and cultural faces of the ash tree. The book maps the tree’s evolution and geographical spread across the entire Northern Hemisphere over the last 44 million years, and describes the 43 species that grace the planet today. Edward Parker also explores the botany, cultural history, and medicinal uses of the tree, from its significance in ancient Indo-European cultures, to its remarkable properties in treating Alzheimer’s disease. In addition he looks at topical issues, such as the devastating effects that the spread of the emerald ash borer beetle and the ash dieback fungal infection are having on Northern Hemisphere forests.
Author: Christopher Woods Publisher: Timber Press ISBN: 160469890X Category : Gardening Languages : en Pages : 417
Book Description
“An extraordinary collection of 21st-century gardens that will arouse wanderlust… Whether you are a garden globetrotter or an armchair explorer, this book is definitely one to add to your collection.” —Gardens Illustrated A steep hillside oasis in Singapore, a garden distinguished by shape and light in Marrakech, a haunting tree museum in Switzerland—these are just a few of the extraordinary outdoor havens visited in Gardenlust. In this sumptuous global tour of modern gardens, intrepid plant expert Christopher Woods spotlights 50 gardens that push boundaries and define natural beauty in significant ways. Featuring both private and public gardens, this journey makes its way from the Americas and Europe to Australia and New Zealand, with stops in Asia, Africa, and the Arabian Peninsula. Along the way, you'll learn about the people, plants, and stories that make these iconic gardens so lust-worthy. As inspiring as it is insightful, Gardenlust will delight your passion for garden inspiration—and the many places it grows.
Author: Michael A. Dirr Publisher: Timber Press ISBN: 1604699183 Category : Gardening Languages : en Pages : 900
Book Description
Michael Dirr, the author of the iconic Dirr’s Trees and Shrubs, is widely acknowledged as one of the leading experts on woody plants. Keith Warren has shaped the American landscape through the introduction of tree cultivars. Together, they have penned what will be the go-to tree resource for decades. The Tree Book is a comprehensive survey of the trees commonly used in landscapes, streetscapes, and home gardens. The trees included are widely available in the nursery trade, new and promising choices, or overlooked options that deserve renewed interest. Each tree profile includes the common and botanical names along with details on foliage; flowers, seeds, fruits, and cones; native range; adaptability; and popular uses in landscapes. The Tree Book will be the authoritative, must-have resource for professional landscape architects, designers, nurserymen, advanced home gardeners, and students of horticulture and landscape design.
Author: Jayne Kranat Publisher: ISBN: 9780199147885 Category : Education Languages : en Pages : 326
Book Description
Aims to provide a match for the AQA Statistics specification. This book is suitable for both Foundation and Higher tier candidates. It provides: practice at the statistical techniques needed for the exam; and integrated project ideas and a separate coursework unit that aims to help students develop their skills in this important area.
Author: Michael Sullivan Publisher: Pomegranate ISBN: 9780764927584 Category : Nature Languages : en Pages : 172
Book Description
Mike Sullivan loves his adopted city of San Francisco, and he loves trees. In The Trees of San Francisco he has combined his passions, offering a striking and handy compendium of botanical information, historical tidbits, cultivation hints, and more. Sullivan's introduction details the history of trees in the city, a fairly recent phenomenon. The text then piques the reader's interest with discussions of 71 city trees. Each tree is illustrated with a photograph--with its common and scientific names prominently displayed--and its specific location within San Francisco, along with other sites; frequently a close-up shot of the tree is included. Sprinkled throughout are 13 sidelights relating to trees; among the topics are the city's wild parrots and the trees they love; an overview of the objectives of the Friends of the Urban Forest; and discussions about the link between Australia's trees and those in the city, such as the eucalyptus. The second part of the book gets the reader up and about, walking the city to see its trees. Full-page color maps accompany the seven detailed tours, outlining the routes; interesting factoids are interspersed throughout the directions. A two-page color map of San Francisco then highlights 25 selected neighborhoods ideal for viewing trees, leading into a checklist of the neighborhoods and their trees.
Author: William Moldwin Publisher: Archway Publishing ISBN: 1665716711 Category : Biography & Autobiography Languages : en Pages : 172
Book Description
While surrounded by a two-acre property, garden, and wooded thicket that contains over a hundred species of trees, William Moldwin has been pondering the ethics of simplicity, ecology, aging, growth, and time. Moldwin entwines fascinating facts about trees with inspiring historical and personal stories of their significance to him, an amateur botanist and son of Hungarian immigrants. While exploring the connections and roles trees play within our natural world, including their medicinal uses, Moldwin reflects on how these trees sustain each other by communicating in various ways through pheromones such as chemical agents, fungi, and root systems—all while his own family tree has sustained many generations, each providing unique contributions to the world. Throughout his presentation, Moldwin’s essays inspire tranquility and harmony while encouraging others to walk among the trees and to bathe in their physical and psychological health benefits as you remember to fight for the green revolution. One Hundred Species and One Family Tree blends a fascinating exploration of the history of trees with a retired pastor’s reflections on his family legacy.
Author: John C. Krieg Publisher: Routledge ISBN: 1351456105 Category : Nature Languages : en Pages : 696
Book Description
This book provides an understanding of desert environments, their climatic conditions, and unique physical beauty - using the five American deserts of the southwestern United States as an example. Through considerable research, sensitivity, and practical experience, the author provides insight into how built environments are designed and installed in order to cope with the harsh, unforgiving physiographic area. Bridging the gap between professional jargon and common sense, Desert Landscape Architecture displays detailed information for every facet of landscape design, environmental concerns, water issues, cultural issues, and plant material use. This unique, thorough book: Provides information applicable to any desert region of the world Supplies a plant compendium with extensive plant lists comprising more than 750 species Examines desert flora and fauna as well as the fragile ecosystems they occupy Reviews human use areas Investigates grading from an aesthetic and practical standpoint Explains the significance of adequate site drainage Discusses schematic, preliminary, and working drawing plans Lists types of site furnishings and their specific purposes Describes how various hardscape elements are drawn and specified Explains plant growth in detail Discusses the dynamics of plant communities and their function in larger ecosystems Reviews the factors affecting plant selection in the design process Identifies desert planning zones Emphasizes the critical nature of irrigation design in the desert landscape architecture - explaining it as an environmental necessity, not a technical issue Outlines the basic principles of hydrology related to system design Discusses water conservation and presents alternatives for reducing water consumption Examines types of light and sun
Author: Christopher Abram
Author: Edward Parker
Author: William Chambers
Author: Christopher Woods
Author: Michael A. Dirr
Author: 
Author: Jayne Kranat
Author: Michael Sullivan
Author: William Moldwin
Author: John C. Krieg