Doug Munroe: The Trees of Ashe County, NC

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Celebrating one of McFarland's local Ashe County authors, Mark interviews retired nurseryman and former volunteer steward of Bluff Nature Preserve, Doug Munroe. Doug is a tree hugger through and through and his love for them is contagious. Listen to his stories of trees unique to the Appalachians and how they impact the history and future of the area.

LISTENER DISCOUNT CODE: BESTPART

Receive a 25% discount on Doug's book from McFarland's website by using the coupon code BESTPART at checkout: mcfarlandbooks.com/product/the-trees-of-ashe-county-north-carolina

BOOK & DESCRIPTION

The Trees of Ashe County, North Carolina. McFarland, softcover (2017) mcfarlandbooks.com/product/the-trees-of-ashe-county-north-carolina

The mountains of Ashe County, in North Carolina’s northwest corner, support an antediluvian mixed hardwood forest, rooted in nutrient-rich soil and watered by 40 to 60 inches of annual rainfall. From the highest peaks—approaching a mile above sea level—to the lowest valleys, through which flows one of the most ancient river systems in the world, trees carpet much of the county’s 406 square miles.

Species with nicknames like wahoo, goosefoot, ironwood, shadblow, bom-a-gilly and buckeye thrive. Others, dominant in the region for millennia, have all but disappeared in recent years. The author describes in detail their anatomy and ecology, and discusses maple syrup production, the local nursery business and the lore and deep value of heritage apple trees; 165 photographs are included.

ABOUT DOUG

Doug Munroe is a painter, former president of the Florence Thomas Art School, former volunteer steward of Bluff Nature Preserve and a retired nurseryman living in the Clifton Community of Ashe County. He partners with his daughter and son-in-law in a commercial maple syrup business and manages a couple of trout ponds.

ABOUT MCFARLAND

McFarland, a leading independent publisher of academic and general-interest nonfiction books, is perhaps best known for the serious treatment of popular culture. Founded in 1979, McFarland is recognized among authors and readers as adventurous in range and a reliable source of worthy books that other publishers overlook. They have about 8000 unique works for sale and each year publish about 350 new titles. Meeting high library standards has been a major focus since the company began, and many McFarland books have received awards from the academic-oriented (e.g., Choice Outstanding Academic Title, ALA Outstanding Reference Work) to the mainstream (Hugo, Edgar, Stoker, and Eisner, among others). www.McFarlandBooks.com

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