Coming this fall
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.
At 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.
What folks are saying
A compelling story
“This book is timely and necessary in this moment where people are more tuned into the value and importance of trees and forests than ever before. Of Heartwood and Woundwood is uniquely relevant for everyone…from tree enthusiasts to those who are seeking nature-based solutions to some of the biggest challenges we face today. Jean knows how to tell a compelling story!”
Dan Lambe, CEO, Arbor Day Foundation
Author, Now Is the Time for Trees: Make an Impact by Planting the Earth’s Most Valuable Resource
Read it, share it, gift it
“Fresh and brave, Of Heartwood and Woundwood is the read we need right now. Read it, share it, gift it, take it into your own heartwood and let this beautiful book remind you how trees—and fine storytelling—can heal what hurts.”
Lynda Mapes, Journalist
Author, The Trees are Speaking: Dispatches from the Salmon Forests
Powerful read
“Jean Zimmerman’s Of Heartwood and Woundwood will help you vicariously discover how trees can guide you in finding the wisdom, courage, and strength needed to face the inevitable before its time. Just as it does for trees, Heartwood will help you stand straight and tall, even in the face of adversity. A light-hearted yet powerful read.”
Douglas Tallamy, Conservationist
Author, Bringing Nature Home, Nature’s Best Hope, The Nature of Oaks
A must read
“Jean Zimmerman has written a touching and engaging story of an unexpected career change into arboriculture and urban forestry. Weaving in her love for history and literature, as well as for trees and especially the women who take care of them, she expertly guides us through urban forests in New York and elsewhere. A devastating disease becomes a source of deepened ties and passion rather than a roadblock. A must read for professional and non-professional tree lovers alike.”
Cecil Konijnendijk, Global Urban Forester
Editor-in-Chief, Arboriculture and Urban Forestry, scientific journal of the International Society of Arboriculture