We typically read one to two non-fiction books each year and a member suggested this one during our January discussion of “A Prayer for the Crown-Shy”, as “crown shyness” is a real tree thing and we were fascinated.

This month, we are checking out book 1 in The Mysteries of Nature series - **The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate: Discoveries from a Secret World by Peter Wohlleben**. On Goodreads, the author is described as a German forester. Not sure what that IS exactly as far as a job description, but I’m intrigued.

Note: If you are in Hillsborough – this one is on Hoopla as well as in physical copy and audio. If you are in Pinellas – just confirming that the “Hidden life of trees : the illustrated edition” is the same book, but with pictures - as for some reason, Pinellas library has more copies of this edition than the original.

**\*\*\*Book summary from Goodreads\*\*\***
*In The Hidden Life of Trees, Peter Wohlleben shares his deep love of woods and forests and explains the amazing processes of life, death, and regeneration he has observed in the woodland and the amazing scientific processes behind the wonders of which we are blissfully unaware. Much like human families, tree parents live together with their children, communicate with them, and support them as they grow, sharing nutrients with those who are sick or struggling and creating an ecosystem that mitigates the impact of extremes of heat and cold for the whole group. As a result of such interactions, trees in a family or community are protected and can live to be very old. In contrast, solitary trees, like street kids, have a tough time of it and in most cases die much earlier than those in a group.*

*Drawing on groundbreaking new discoveries, Wohlleben presents the science behind the secret and previously unknown life of trees and their communication abilities; he describes how these discoveries have informed his own practices in the forest around him. As he says, a happy forest is a healthy forest, and he believes that eco-friendly practices not only are economically sustainable but also benefit the health of our planet and the mental and physical health of all who live on Earth.*

**\*\*\*This month's restaurant selection\*\*\***
This month we are checking out a family-owned business established in 2002 and one of the oldest eateries in Seminole Heights – The Front Porch. Cute spot inside an 1898 Victorian House and with great food with just about everything (including dressings) made in-house. You can check out their menu here: https://frontporchgrill.com/.

**\*\*\*Not sure about book club or never been to one before? \*\*\***
Read the book (or some of the book). Come to the Meetup. Eat yummy food and chat with folks about what you thought about the book. REPEAT!

**\*\*\*Not sure where to get the book? \*\*\***
All books we select have a decent number of copies (at least 3-4 across all formats) at both the Hillsborough and Pinellas County Library. And, of course, you can always buy a copy.

**\*\*\*Didn’t finish/hated this book?\*\*\***
Come to the Meetup anyway! If you didn't finish - just be aware, there will be spoilers. If you hated it, come and rant! In my experience, the books that generate the best conversations and the books we really love are rarely the same books.

Andrea B

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NNO Book Club: The Hidden Life of Trees

Front Porch & Bart's Tavern

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NNO Book Club: The Hidden Life of Trees

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