Palm Trees And Poison

Deadly. Powerful. Beautiful. The much-hated plant called poison ivy is all of these—and more. Poison ivy has long irritated humans, but the astounding paradox is that poison ivy is a plant of immense ecological value. In Praise of Poison Ivy explores the vices and virtues of a plant with a dramatic history and a rosy future. Once planted in gardens from Versailles to Monticello, poison ivy now has a crucial role in the American landscape. The detested plant is a lens through which to observe the changes and challenges that face our planet. For centuries, poison ivy has bedeviled, inconvenienced, and downright tortured the human race. This book covers the unique history of the plant, starting with the brash and adventurous explorer Captain John Smith, who “discovered” poison ivy the hard way in 1607. Despite its irritating qualities, the magnificent scarlet-and-gold autumn foliage lured Virginia entrepreneurs to export the vine to Europe, making it one of the earliest documented New World plants to cross the Atlantic, and its meteoric rise to fame as–of all unlikely things—a garden plant. Showcased in the pleasure grounds of emperors and kings, poison ivy was displayed like a captive tiger, admired by Thomas Jefferson, Marie Antoinette, and Josephine Bonaparte. Today, poison ivy is valued by environmentalists and native plant enthusiasts who name it one of our most important plants for wildlife as well as for soil conservation. In Praise of Poison Ivy will reveal why, in its native American habitat, poison ivy is a plant of astonishing ecological value. Poison ivy leaves are an important wildlife food, and the berries are a crucial source of winter nutrition for beloved bird species like robins, bluebirds and cardinals. On a national listing of hundreds of native plants that are of value to wildlife, poison ivy ranks seventh in importance. InPraise of Poison Ivy also explores the question of why this plant is apparently on a mission to give us humans grief, from itchy ankles to life-threatening medical emergencies. The book will examine why poison ivy targets humans, but no other species, and explain the mystery of why a privileged few are immune to its itchy consequences. Since the time of John Smith and Pocahontas, the American landscape has changed in countless ways—many obvious, some subtle. This book will reveal why there is far more poison ivy on the planet now than there was in 1607, with lots more on its way. It examines the ecological reasons for poison ivy’s rosy future, note the effects of climate change on native plants, and investigate the valuable role that poison ivy could play in our changing world.

From the pen of one of America's most talented mystery writers comes a half-dozen fast-paced tales of mayhem and murder on Florida's Gold Coast -- the fabulous neon strip that stretches from Fort Lauderdale to Miami. Here, Stuff Driscoll operates out of the Sheriff's Office in Halcyon, a small fictitious resort town about twenty miles north of Miami Beach. He's one of the new breed of police officers -- well-read, sophisticated, with a wry, biting sense of humor for any situation. Tough and unconventional on duty or off, Driscoll is well known to both the upper and lower crusts of the glittering crowd that comes South in search of sun, sand, and sin.

The Third Mystery MEGAPACK® collects 26 modern and classic mysteries. Here are: THE AFRICAN FISH MYSTERY, by James Holding THE EBONY STICK, by Earl Derr Biggers CHICKENS FOR CHARLIE, by Arlette Lees DOUBLE DOUBLE-CROSS, by Jack London Berkebile THE DOOMDORF MYSTERY, by Melville Davisson Post CAPTAIN ROGERS, by W.W. Jacobs A BORDERLINE CASE, by Rufus King JUDGE BARCLAY'S WIFE, by William Hope Hodgson THE ARCHDUKE'S TEA, by H.C. Bailey THE IMPETUOUS MISTRESS, by George Harmon Coxe AARON'S PERFECT PLANS, by Pauline Tyson Stephens BUTTERFLY OF DEATH, by Harold Gluck MORGUE REUNION, by Norman A. Daniels FOOTPRINTS IN THE SNOW, by Maurice LeBlanc DROPS OF DEATH, by George Allan England THE BITER BIT, by Wilkie Collins THE FACES OF DANGER, by Rufus King THE KNIGHT'S CROSS SIGNAL PROBLEM, by Ernest Bramah THESE SHOES ARE KILLING ME, by Leroy Yerxa THE MYSTERY OF THE DOWNS, by John R. Watson and Arthur J. Rees TOO MANY SPIES, by Joseph J. Millard WHO KILLED GILBERT FOSTER?, By E. Hoffmann Price & Ralph Milne Farley TO REMEMBER YOU BY, by Rufus King THE YELLOW MOTH, by Fred M. White WHO MURDERED MR. THOMAS? A Puzzle Story, by Edgar Rice Burroughs THE SKINS YOU LOVE TO TOUCH, by Janet Fox If you enjoy this ebook, don't forget to search your favorite ebook store for "Wildside Press Megapack" to see more of the 280+ volumes in this series, covering adventure, historical fiction, mysteries, westerns, ghost stories, science fiction -- and much, much more!

This American author has now spent four decades being involved in Costa Rica’s terrestrial and marine habitats, documenting the challenges and triumphs of his attempts to make an environmentally conscious and sustainable living in this paradise. Jon Marañón offers a unique first-person account of nature and persons in conflict and the difficulties of meshing human existence into the recently pristine coastal rainforests of Costa Rica. His work promotes reader awareness of the natural environment, wildlife, ecosystems, and socioculture of this remote area of Costa Rica. Ecology and spirituality intertwine as he describes his journey in a mix of naturalist and lyrical prose that, along with humor and introspection, mark the style of The Gringo’s Hawk. The Gringo’s Hawk represents the culmination of Mr. Marañón’s social struggles and the roles he has played in conservation, education, social well-being, and in establishing national parks and marine reserves in his area.

Known around the country, and the world, for its oranges, beautiful beaches, and attractions like Walt Disney World, the Sunshine State is an exciting place to visit and to live. Readers are presented with a detailed look at the history, economy, government, and people of Florida. This book contains the latest information about the state and is sure to draw in readers with full-color photographs and interesting Fast Facts.