|
It's been so worthwhile that I got a second copy to keep in the truck. It's small enough to fit into a back pocket without a bulge, which means I'm more likely to have it with me when I want it. We practiced it & found that we could all easily identify trees with it - but it did take some time to READ, COMPREHEND & PRACTICE before we were all proficient. You won't find hybrids, some imports (garden) trees, but it packs in over 100 common trees & can lead anyone into a quick, accurate identification with very little practice. Not this book.I have several tree ID books & I may outgrow this one. But I haven't outgrown "The Tree Finder" by the same authors (for trees with leaves) & I've been using it for a couple of years on a pretty regular basis. Some took a little longer &, in every case, it was because they tried to short cut the process. It's really quite easy, once you get the hang of it.For such a small book, it packs a lot of trees into it - Eastern North America only.
That's the biggest plus. Often I'll think I've found a tree that won't be in it, but there it is. On a 'Winter Tree ID Hike' at a local nature center, we were given this book to use as a reference. So if you're having trouble using it, go back & re-read. The more comprehensive books are OK, but they're always back at the house when I need them or in the way as I walk through the woods & want to take a picture.
I have one for summer and now this one for winter which is really detailed with wonderful pics to help identify. I really recommend this book for someone that likes to identify trees when they go somewhere. This book will go on all my trips with me.
This book seems to be pretty accurate if you go through all of the steps. We were actually looking for something quick and easy to help us identify tree bark in the woods. It's just a pain in the butt.
This guide isn't amazingly detailed or illustrated, but it does provide a good basic means of identifying trees without their foliage. The small size makes it convenient to stuff in a pocket during a hike.
I purchased these books for a youth nature hike. They are easy to cart about, and provide hours of entertainment for a reasonable amount of cash.
|
