"Trees" is a fully illustrated guide to more than 600 trees. The text sparkles with fact and folklore, illuminating the subject with authority and enthusiasm. Fully updated, it includes all th e newest tree varieties and cultivars. The book first looks at the structure and life cycle of trees; their role in the ecosystem, planting and pruning; and, the use of trees in garden design. The core of the book is a complete record of coniferous and deciduous trees, grouped by family, in which an authoritative main text is complemented by a comprehensive index of trees, listing and illustrating alphabetically every important family, species and variety by their horticultural name. Finally, a reference section includes a guide to choosing trees for the garden and an A-Z listing of the most important and popular species and varieties of trees.