Trees are one of Earth's oldest life forms; silent witnesses to human evolution and the passing of time. Many people today are unaware of their significance in Earth's ecology, their medicinal and nutritional properties, or the veneration bestowed on them by ancient peoples. The Spirit of Trees captures all these elements in an inspiring holistic appraisal. Hageneder looks in detail at 24 of Europe and North America's best-loved trees: their physical characteristics, their healing powers, the traditions associated with them and how they have inspired human beings through the ages. Beautifully illustrated with black and white photographs and illustrations.
Fred Hageneder is a harpist, graphic designer and artist whose passion for trees started in his teens. He has composed music for The Celtic Tree Circle, and painted tree portraits, many of which appear in this volume. Born in Hamburg, he now lives in the Cotswolds, England. He is the author of The Heritage of Trees (Floris Books).
"Eloquent prose and deeply perceptive paintings."
– Cygnus Review
"The Spirit of Trees is an attractive, well-illustrated, and rewarding book that explores the relationship between humanity and trees [...] richly enhanced with photographs, sketches, drawings, and appealing, colorful paintings and watercolors. It is sturdy and attractive and Hageneder coherently presents a wide range of information on trees and related subjects."
– New Age Retailer
"Hagender's passion for his subject and the wealth of scientific fact, historical information, and traditional lore he gathered in the process have resulted in a virtual arboretum of 24 of the most common, best-loved trees of Europe and North America, presented with stunningly beautiful paintings, drawings, and photographs."
– Kaya Jacolev, Napra Review
"How pleasant to be able to review a book so delightfully informative and thoughtfully inspiring as this one! The Spirit of Trees captures each of these themes in a beautifully illustrated, well printed and fluently written text. This is a book that has been sorely needed. General readers and specialists alike will find much within in its pages for stimulation, reflection and refreshment."
– Peter Barlow, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol