The Weather Detective

April 1, 2018
A garden provides the key to the natural universe.In matter-of-fact prose with only occasional hints of poetry, Wohlleben (The Inner Life of Animals, 2017, etc.), who worked for two decades in the forestry commission in Germany, offers a guidebook on how everything we need to know about the weather can be learned by paying close attention to our natural surroundings in general and our gardens in particular. As the author writes, you don't need a clock to know what time it is. You can listen to "the bird clock" or watch for the telling signs of "the flower clock," learning when and how different species respond to the hours of the day. "What I'm really interested in is reclaiming our powers of observation which, up until now, have been buried under the surface of modernity," he writes in conclusion. "When we use our senses at full capacity, we access the wealth of thrilling and calming experiences waiting for us just outside our back doors, in nature and in our gardens." Wohlleben demonstrates the delicate balance between asserting human control over a garden and letting nature take its course. He ponders issues such as whether to have a bird feeder (he has some ambivalence but has switched sides) and whether to use artificial light on the garden at night--absolutely not: the author doesn't turn on lights inside unless absolutely necessary and closes the blinds tightly when he does. The author is ever aware of the biggest picture: "I find it especially fascinating to think that when we observe the night sky we are looking into the past. For the stars are nothing but very, very distant suns, whose light has taken centuries, if not millennia, to reach us." Most of the narrative is fairly pragmatic and offers specific advice on what we can learn from plants, insects, and animals and how the weather affects those interactions.You'll never look at your garden the same way again.

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May 15, 2018

Wohlleben (The Hidden Life of Trees) worked for the German forestry commission for more than 20 years and currently runs environmentally friendly woodland. In the beginning of this latest work, the author shares how readers can predict the weather in the short term by using natural phenomena such as sky color or the amount and type of cloud cover. He then discusses astronomy, the characteristics of the four seasons, the impact of climate change, soils and soil fauna, native vs. invasive plants and animals, and predator/prey relationships, all tied to a garden setting. The work only contains metric measurements, and the weather patterns and many of wildlife examples are native to England or continental Europe, though most of the information can be extrapolated by interested readers. Tristan Gooley's The Lost Art of Reading Nature's Signs offers a more comprehensive discussion of deciphering the mystery of the great outdoors. VERDICT An inviting and easily understandable look at weather and natural phenomena that will appeal to weather, nature, and gardening buffs, and all who want a better understanding of nature's processes.--Sue O'Brien, Downers Grove, IL

Copyright 2018 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 9, 2018
Anyone caught in a rain shower realizes afterward that there had been warnings: dark clouds looming overhead, for example. In this slim volume, German forester and naturalist Wohlleben (The Secret Life of Trees) calls attention to such signs as these to encourage readers to notice and connect with nature. Despite the title, weather is the topic only in the first quarter of the book, which begins at the level of the Earth’s atmosphere and descends through the clouds to arrive at the vantage point Wohlleben advocates for interacting with and observing nature: one’s garden. Along the way he scatters interesting tidbits (he describes how small creatures maintain their body temperatures in cold weather and why some flowers bloom at night). “Whether it’s forecasting what’s ahead or assessing current weather events, whether it’s insect infestations or when it’s safe to say a season has started or ended,” he writes, “you can read all of this data from your garden much more accurately than any newsreader from an autocue.” Despite some focus on Wohlleben’s home country of Germany, green-thumbers all over should appreciate his insight on water requirements in gardens throughout the year and on soil composition, which can significantly affect what can be grown and how to do it. With clarity and enthusiasm, Wohlleben’s soothing guide to understanding nature via one’s backyard offers accessible encouragement “to take pleasure in time spent outdoors and relaxing outside.”