Drooping lazily over waterways, shading gardens, guarding hedgerows—the willow tree is a poetically formed plant, but also a practical one. For millennia, the wood of the willow has been used for baskets, furniture, fences, and toys, while finding its place in the watercolors of Monet, Shakespearean tragedies, Hans Christian Andersen, and The Lord of the Rings. Telling the willow’s rich and multilayered tale, Alison Syme explores its presence in literature, art, and human history. Syme examines the manifold practical uses of the tree, discussing the application of its bark in medicines, its production as an energy crop that produces biofuel and charcoal, and its employment for soil stabilization and other environmental protection schemes. But despite all the functional uses of willows, she argues, we must also heed the lessons they teach about living, dying, and enriching our world. Looking at the roles that willows have played in folklore, religion, and art, she parses their connections to grief and joy, toil and play, necessity and ornament. Filled with one hundred images, Willow is a seamless account of the singular place the willow holds in our culture.

Over 1,000 color photographs, manufacturers' marks, and an expansive text, make this the most comprehensive catalog of the Willow pattern ever produced. Ceramic tableware from the English Staffordshire potting district, Yorkshire, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland are all displayed. The text provides information on over 400 pottery factories, including William Adams & Sons, Copeland & Garrett, S. Fielding & Company, Minton, and Wedgwood. Current market values are provided in the captions.

Profiles nearly two thousand tree species and cultivars found in North America and Europe, with paintings of important details, and describes the native range of each species.

The ultimate reference guide and identifier to more than 700 of the most spetacular trees, with over 500 specially commissioned artworks and photographs.

A beautifully illustrated history of 120 royal palaces, significant stately homes and gardens, with 500 pictures.

Over three million copies and 25 years later, Children's Illustrated Encyclopedia is revised and updated with the latest facts, figures, and technologies. Covering more than 380 topics from dinosaurs to digital technology, this highly visual guide engages young readers with photographic spreads and illustrations annotated with amazing trivia. Featuring full-color photographs, maps, cutaway diagrams, charts, and more, Children's Illustrated Encyclopedia is written in a clear and child-friendly style with updates that include recent space missions, scientific breakthroughs, and the latest significant events. Children's Illustrated Encyclopedia is perfect for reports, homework, and independent research. A great addition to any bookshelf, Children's Illustrated Encyclopedia is the essential book for curious young readers who want to know about everything.