Wild Urban Plants of the Northeast by Peter del Tredici

They are everywhere and yet they are invisible to most people. They grow and reproduce in the city without being planted or cared for. Some of the plants are native to the region and were present before humans drastically altered the land some were brought intentionally or unintentionally by people and some arrived on their own, dispersed by wind, water, or wild animals. The that fill the vacant spaces between our roads, our homes, and our businesses take over neglected landscapes and line the shores of streams, rivers, lakes, and oceans. Understanding should come before judgement when urban wild plants are concerned. In other words, its functions, not just its categories – native, exotic, invasive, naturalized – must be appreciated by professionals and citizens alike. If it is to fulfill its potential, the urban wild flora must be better understood and better used. Excerpts from Wild Urban Plants of the Northeast by Peter Del Tredici:įrom the Foreword by Steward T. Additionally, the book’s 25 page introduction is an excellent overview of how weeds fit in to the ecology of urban areas and an incentive to not only stop and get to know our urban flora but to respect it for its tenacity and durability and its important ecological role. Many of these weeds are found in cities across North America, so the guide is still useful regardless of where you live.

Del Tredici’s book serves mainly as a field guide for identifying common weeds found in urban areas in the northeast region of the United States.

It is also inspired by Peter Del Tredici’s book, Wild Urban Plants of the Northeast, which encouraged me to take a closer look at the weeds that grow in my urban hometown of Boise, Idaho. The Summer of Weeds is a result of the curiosity and fascination I feel towards weeds.

Wild Urban Plants of the Northeast by Peter del Tredici