Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2005

Tree ID guide book available from Arbor Day Foundation

"What Tree Is That?," a pocket guide for identifying trees, is available from The National Arbor Day Foundation.

The 72-page guide will help you identify 135 different trees found in the eastern and central U.S.

Well-known trees are included: oaks, maples, spruces, and pines. Also species such as horsechestnut and mockernut hickory, sassafras and shadbush, persimmon and pawpaw and pagodatree and pecan.

Dozens of drawings illustrate the trees' leaves or needles and their acorns, berries, seed pods, cones, and other identifying features. "What Tree Is That?" is organized to make it easy to identify trees in a simple step-by-step fashion.

"Helping people enjoy and appreciate trees is central to the educational mission of the Arbor Day Foundation," John Rosenow, the Foundation's president, said. "Being able to identify trees is important to knowing how to care for them and how to plant the right tree in the right place."

To obtain your tree ID guide, send your name and address and $3 to "What Tree Is That?," The National Arbor Day Foundation, Nebraska City, NE 68410. Or go online to arborday.org.