Book review: In Botanical Time

In the fast-paced world of modern horticulture, where "instant impact" and seasonal turnover often dominate the trade, Christopher Woods’ latest offering from Chelsea Green Publishing arrives as a necessary, sobering corrective. This is not merely a book about plants; it is a profound evolutionary study of 23 specific species that have mastered the art of survival over millennia.

Woods is uniquely qualified to act as our guide. Having studied at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and currently working in North America, he possesses a rare international perspective. This "USA lens" on a global botanical stage allows him to bridge the gap between European tradition and the vast, rugged landscapes of the New World.

The narrative begins with a 14,000-year odyssey centered on the Aspen. It is a fitting starting point for a book that treats time not in seasons, but in epochs. From there, we are transported to Japan to visit sacred cypresses, before returning across the Pacific to marvel at the longevity of the North American swamp cypresses. This global transit highlights a recurring theme: the plant kingdom’s incredible capacity for endurance.

For the British reader, the climax of the book is undoubtedly the final chapter on the ancient yews of Europe. Woods pays homage to the gnarled, silent sentinels of our own landscape, featuring the legendary specimens at Aberglasney, Fortingall, and Crowhurst. His treatment of Taxus baccata is both reverent and scientifically grounded. The photography throughout is exceptional, capturing the structural integrity of these ancient beings, while the history is rock-solid, providing the reader with a deep sense of lineage.

The overarching lesson to be learnt from this book is age. Woods argues convincingly that trees don't just get old by accident; they survive through a biological tenacity that allows them to withstand climate change and adverse conditions such as fire and drought.

In a fascinating takeaway for the professional grower or landscape architect, Woods observes that the toughest environments tend to produce the oldest plants. These species survive because they battle on, growing slowly and investing in durability rather than following the showy evolutionary path of rapid growth and aggressive breeding. This is natural selection in its most patient form: teaching us that plants can survive almost any threat if they are genetically tempered to do so.

Woods’ passion and expertise make him a great guide through the history of plants. He reminds us that while we may plant for next year, nature grows for the next millennium.