Every once in a while, a book comes into your life at the perfect time. For me that was “Nature’s Best Hope” also by Doug Tallamy. That book brought so many things together about how nature surrounds us and how we, as custodians of our little plots of land, make a big difference – both positively and negatively – to the ecosystems we enjoy and upon which our lives literally depend.
“Nature’s Best Hope” was detailed and actionable and I had it on the top of my book recommendations whenever anyone asked. So I was skeptical that another book was needed. Boy I was wrong! “The Nature of Oaks” expands on our personal responsibility to support nature at home. It not only includes why we need to act but explains how to do it.
An entire book just about oaks sounds like it could be dry and scientific. Luckily for readers though, the storytelling style, loads of pictures, and Tallamy’s concise writing make this a true page-turner. There were no wasted sentences. Every single one added value. That’s my kind of book! At 150-ish illustrated pages, I devoured it in a day.
Organized by months, we see the value of oaks over the course of a year starting in October. I quickly learned that blue jays bury acorns. Seriously, did anyone else know this? How did I get to be an adult without this knowledge?
“…our conservation model was based on the notion that humans and their tailings were here, and nature was someplace else. That model of mutual exclusion has failed us dismally; there simply are not enough untrammeled places left to sustain the natural world that until now has sustained us.”
– Doug Tallamy
I could easily go on and on about the fascinating things I learned – and I’m not exaggerating to say there was something new on every page. But if I did try to list them here, I would essentially be recopying the book.
In addition to the journey through the year, readers will also discover some captivating insects and birds who depend on these trees. I was about to say “these magnificent trees,” but that is another thing you’ll learn as you read: there are more than 90 native oaks in North America and they come in all sizes. While the ecosystem definitely agrees they are magnificent, they aren’t all the iconic large specimen trees we associate with the name ‘oak.’ In fact, put all your excuses aside, there is an oak that is perfect for you. (You’ll find a list of the best options at the end of the book.)
The chapters are arranged by month, but the information held within each goes beyond a simple biological explanation.
After finishing the main chapters in the book, I was hooked on oaks. But the one chapter not to be missed is not really a chapter, but the epilogue. In five pages Doug Tallamy summarizes the urgency to act on behalf of our ecosystems more compellingly than I’ve read elsewhere.
My one minor complaint about the book, is the limit of the discussion to the 603 million acres (33% of the lower 48 states) of built landscapes not including agricultural land. Why exclude farmland though? More than 75% of it is dedicated to feeding livestock. There is no nutritional need to eat animals so if we chose a plant-based diet then a big percentage of the mono-cropped corn and soybean fields also become contenders for adding ecological value rather than contributing to our extractive economy. But I digress, let’s start at home and do everything possible wherever possible. 603 million acres is a lot of land, let’s start there. No, that sounds overwhelming. Let’s start with the plots of land that surround our houses. We don’t have to wait for someone else to do something on land that we personally own. It’s up to us.
Read this book as if your future depends on it. Because really, it does.
“The Nature of Oaks: The Rich Ecology of Our Most Essential Native Trees” by Douglas W. Tallamy was published in 2021 by Timber Press, Inc. It is available in hardcover, ebook and audiobook formats.
You can also find and follow Doug Tallamy on instagram, and find more on his website: www.homegrownnationalpark.org
I’m going to have to search this book out !
This sounds so interesting! Totally agree about the farmland devoted to livestock.