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3 books match the query 'Allison, R. Bruce'

cover of Every Root an Anchor: Wisconsin's Famous and Historic Trees

Every Root an Anchor

Wisconsin's Famous and Historic Trees

R. Bruce Allison

Wisconsin Historical Society Press, 2005

In Every Root an Anchor, writer and arborist R. Bruce Allison celebrates Wisconsin's most significant, unusual, and historic trees. More than one hundred tales introduce us to trees across the state, some remarkable for their size or age, others for their intriguing histories. From magnificent elms to beloved pines to Frank Lloyd Wright's oaks, these trees are woven into our history, contributing to our sense of place. They are anchors for time-honored customs, manifestations of our ideals, and reminders of our lives' most significant events.

For this updated edition, Allison revisits the trees' histories and tells us which of these unique landmarks are still standing. He sets forth an environmental message as well, reminding us to recognize our connectedness to trees and to manage our tree resources wisely. As early Wisconsin conservationist Increase Lapham said, "Tree histories increase our love of home and improve our hearts. They deserve to be told and remembered."

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cover of If Trees Could Talk: Stories About Wisconsin Trees

If Trees Could Talk

Stories About Wisconsin Trees

R. Bruce Allison

Wisconsin Historical Society Press, 2009

Inside the pages of If Trees Could Talk, Allison gives readers aged 7 to 12 fascinating stories that introduce them to noteworthy trees, both past and present, across Wisconsin. From Kenosha's buried forest on the shores of Lake Michigan to the Wyalusing maple that saw the last of the passenger pigeons; from Aldo Leopold's "good oak" to the disappeared elms of State Street in Madison, these stories open up a fascinating ecological and social history of Wisconsin to young readers. Other stories showcase the state's history: readers will encounter Chief Black Hawk hiding in a hickory, Civil War soldiers enlisting for battle under "sign-up" trees, and trees used to hang criminals without a trial. They will also learn of large and unusual trees like the Columbus Cottonwood, which was over 26 feet around or, in the words of the author, so large that "it would take you and eight of your friends with your arms outstretched to reach all the way around it!"
 
Told in a compelling narrative style and supplemented with historic photographs and illustrations, these stories instill a sense of place and understanding of the rich heritage of our trees and forests. The book also carries an environmental message encouraging children to appreciate and manage natural resources wisely and respectfully. The highly accessible format includes a map of historic trees locations, a glossary of tree terms, a tree identification chart, and a list of suggested books and websites for further reading.
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cover of Trees as a Way of Life: An Arborist’s Story

Trees as a Way of Life

An Arborist’s Story

R. Bruce Allison

Wisconsin Historical Society Press, 2027

An arborist’s lifelong journey reveals the deep connections between people and trees.
Bruce Allison has spent decades listening to trees and making sense of what they tell us. In this intimate and absorbing memoir, he deftly weaves personal stories, botanical insights, and moments of wonder and revelation into a captivating ode to trees.
Trees as a Way of Life follows Allison on his journey from seedling to sapling to maturity, as he explores a eucalyptus grove as a boy in Bonita, California; learns the tree ethic as an apprentice arborist in Baltimore, Maryland; and establishes his own tree care company in Madison, Wisconsin. After more than fifty years as a professional arborist, he tells stories of stewarding the trees at the Wisconsin State Capitol and Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin, among other sites, and describes formative encounters with notable tree-loving clients, including American Girl creator Pleasant Rowland and Epic Systems founder Judith Faulkner. As he tells his own story, Allison incorporates the voices and stories of renowned naturalists like Henry David Thoreau, John Muir, Aldo Leopold, and Rachel Carson.
Allison also uses his own tree encounters as jumping-off points for deep dives into individual species, memorable moments in tree history, and tips and tricks for tree care and maintenance. As only an accomplished arborist and educator could, he provides a detailed-yet-accessible tutorial on trees, from the upper canopy of stem and crown, through the veil of bark, to the hidden underground landscape of tree roots and fungi.
In the tradition of the international bestseller The Hidden Life of Trees, this book carries readers root by root and limb by limb to a deeper understanding of the trees that feed us, protect us, shade us, and inspire us. In an engaging narrative style that blends the personal, the scientific, and the poetic, Allison’s story is an intimate love letter to trees, a master class in understanding and appreciating them, and an invitation to readers who also long to make trees a way of life.

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