Of Heartwood and Woundwood

A lively and moving literary memoir of trees, illness, and the fierce resilience of the human spirit.

High in the crown of a chestnut oak, amid the dappled sunlight and the whisper of leaves, writer and arborist Jean Zimmerman experienced a sudden physical crisis that marked the beginning of a profound transformation--the second life-altering development she faced in a dozen years. The first: a pivot away from a successful writing career to become a professional arborist. The second: a diagnosis of ALS, received soon after unsettling symptoms arose while she was on a tree-climbing retreat. Interweaving these two life changes, Zimmerman builds a lush, poignant, and hopeful narrative that intertwines the fragility of the human body with the enduring strength of trees.

With the keen eye of a seasoned writer and the heart of a devoted arborist, Zimmerman invites us into a world where trees become teachers, healers, and companions amid life's most daunting challenges. She explores the science and symbolism of heartwood, the resilient core of a tree, and woundwood, the tissue that seals and strengthens after injury, drawing powerful parallels to human resilience. Her evocative and effervescent narrative celebrates the enduring wisdom of "ladytrees," embodying feminine power and grace, and honors the women who have shaped the history and future of arboriculture.

Set against vivid landscapes from New York City's urban canopy to the wilds of the Pacific Northwest, Of Heartwood and Woundwood is both a personal odyssey and a cultural history. It illuminates the vital role trees play in our environment and psyche, weaving botanical science, historical insight, and poetic meditation. For all of us who cherish nature's mysteries and the art of storytelling, this book is a luminous testament to finding courage, connection, and joy in the face of uncertainty.