University Press of Kentucky Releases VENERABLE TREES

In 2013, a housing development in Lexington, Kentucky, threatened the life of a bur oak that is at least three hundred years old. The resulting outcry from the citizens of Fayette County led the development company to implement a conservation plan to save this venerable tree. Whether it is out of a respect for their history or a reverence for their majesty, residents of the Bluegrass care about their ancient trees. Kentucky's landscape is dotted by trees that predate the settlement of the American colonies. Living examples of species such as bur oak, Shumard oak, kingnut, and blue ash, among others, took root in the Bluegrass and Nashville Basin regions before Columbus ever crossed the Atlantic.

In Venerable Trees: History, Biology, and Conservation in the Bluegrass, Tom Kimmerer describes how Kentuckians have been living in and amongst venerable trees since the region was settled and how ancient specimens have been integral to the region. In fact, an old bur oak was felled to build the first permanent structure in Lexington. Despite the many changes that the area has seen, including widespread development, trees up to five hundred years old still survive. They can be found in the surrounding countryside, but also in unlikely places-behind gas stations, in used-car lot, next to a motel. Today, protection of old trees is a conscious effort of city officials, conservation groups, and concerned citizens.

The unique make-up of the Bluegrass has much to do with the incredible fact that so many of these trees still stand. As Kimmerer says, "The mystery about these trees is not why they are disappearing, but why they are still here. In almost all urban areas of North America, trees present at the time of first settlement did not survive." Beneath the surface of the region lies a thick layer of limestone. These trees' roots have grown down into the bedrock, which in turn allows them a steady supply of water and nutrients, even when development threatens the land. Kimmerer explains the subtle differences in land foundation, and how something as simple as the thickness of limestone can make a big difference in the survival of ancient trees. Land development, overgrazing, and a multitude of other factors, however, have made it increasingly difficult for young trees of the species capable of reaching a venerable age to take root.

Due to their irreplaceability, the participation of both citizens and government agencies is instrumental in preserving the old trees that stand in neighborhoods, industrial areas, and woodland pastures. Mindful preservation first began when horse farms became popular, originally as shade for animals and workers, but eventually as decoration for the lavish lawns of the properties. Kimmerer also documents examples of today's civilians uniting to defend trees that have been threatened, such as the Old Schoolhouse Oak in Fayette County. Creativity, determination, and public awareness all play vital roles in the effort to keep venerable trees alive and healthy.

The venerable trees that Kimmerer describes are vital to the history, landscape, and ecosystem of both the Kentucky Bluegrass and Nashville Basin regions. In addition to exploring their history and biology, Kimmerer also suggests ways to protect the magnificent trees, including detailed guidelines to aid in managing them and proven strategies to promote their growth and natural regeneration. The Bluegrass boasts a unique and picturesque landscape found nowhere else in the Western Hemisphere. Without these venerable trees, the very face of the region would be irrevocably altered.

Tom Kimmerer is chief scientist at Venerable Trees, Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to the conservation of woodland pastures and ancient trees in the Bluegrass. Trained as a tree physiologist and forest scientist, he has been a researcher and teacher in the United States, Indonesia, and Malaysia.

Venerable Trees

History, Biology, and Conservation in the Bluegrass

Tom Kimmerer

Publication Date: October 23, 2015 ♦ $39.95 cloth, ISBN: 978-0-8131-6566-0 ♦ 288 pages, 7 x 10, 120 b&w photos, 118 color photos, 29 maps, 1 figure ♦ ebook available

For more information, contact: Mack McCormick, Publicity Manager, 859/257-5200, permissions@uky.edu