The Toothache Tree

“And so the legend goes that if you break the skin of another with the barb of a toothache tree, you will capture his spirit. And the two spirits—your two souls—will live forever . . . as one.” That ancient Indian legend achieves a sense of modern-day truth for a man down on his luck and a teenaged boy, a rich kid who has every advantage that life can offer; but he’s missing one major ingredient: the love and companionship of a father. It was only a simple kidnapping for ransom, until the lives of the kidnapper and his captive become inexorably intertwined amid the splendor, the mystery, the unbridled fun and the harsh realities of the Big Thicket woods in East Texas . . . where sunrise turns morning ground fog into a pink cloud. Where coyotes howl and a cougar roams. Where intense hostility transmutes into warmth and trust in a pair of hearts that were once achingly empty. But Mother Nature, a stringent Society, and a dogging FBI will not let up on them. Initially printed by St. Martin’s Press, The Toothache Tree was also a selection of the Reader’s Digest Condensed Book Club.

This popular guide enables users to quickly and confidently identify any of the trees of the southeastern United States, from the common loblolly pine or red mulberry to the rare Pinckneya (fever-tree) or goat willow. The guide treats more than 300 species--every one known to occur in the region, from the Coastal Plain to the highest elevations. Included are trees native to the region as well as those introduced and now reproducing. Helpful features include easy identification keys, common and scientific names, distribution maps, an introductory section on basic leaf, flower, and stem structures, and a glossary of descriptive and identifying terms.

Knowing when and how to plant a tree are crucial to its survival. But if you select the wrong tree for your particular area and conditions, the proper planting techniques will not make a difference. Because Texas is a big place with varied climates, soils, and water qualities, a wide variety of trees can be grown there. Howard Garrett, also known as the "Dirt Doctor," explores the wide-ranging possibilities in a book that will prove its value to homeowners, landscape architects, contractors, nurseries, gardeners, and others who want healthy trees. Texas Trees includes a complete description of native and best-introduced trees and gives details on natural habitats and preferred sites, planting and maintenance, identification information, flowers, fruit and foliage, culture, problems, and propagation. Texas Trees is for all Texas tree lovers, from the Red River to the Gulf Coast, the piney woods to the deserts and mountains.

In the backyard where Charlie has buried his tooth because he no longer believes in the Tooth Fairy, a voracious tree with teeth on its branches appears and begins to devour everything in sight; but all is saved by the bedside appearance of the Tooth Fairy.

This accessibly written and authoritative guide updates the beloved and much-used 1970s classic Seacoast Plants of the Carolinas. In this completely reimagined book, Paul E. Hosier provides a rich, new reference guide to plant life in the coastal zone of the Carolinas for nature lovers, gardeners, landscapers, students, and community leaders. Features include: * Detailed profiles of more than 200 plants, with color photographs and information about identification, value to wildlife, relationship to natural communities, propagation, and landscape use. * Background on coastal plant communities, including the effects of invasive species and the benefits of using native plants in landscaping. * A section on the effects of climate change on the coast and its plants. * A list of natural areas and preserves open to visitors interested in observing native plants in the coastal Carolinas. * A glossary that includes plant names and scientific terms. With a special emphasis on the benefits of conserving and landscaping with native plants, this guide belongs on the shelf of every resident and visitor to the coasts of the Carolinas.