Urban Ecologist and Harvard Botanist

I am a horticulturist and a botanist who has worked for Harvard University since 1972, both at the Harvard Forest and at the Arnold Arboretum in Boston. Over the past 15 years, my work has focused on urban ecology and the important role that plants play in making cities more livable for all their inhabitants.

Here’s the link to a recent WBUR interview about my new book which, in this season of the coronavirus pandemic, I’m calling A Field Guide to Being Stuck at Home. It was recorded on May 3, 2020 during a walk along the Charles River.

In 2010, I published the first edition of Wild Urban Plants of the Northeast: A Field Guide which achieved wide acclaim from both professionals and amateurs interested in urban ecology and the plants that grow in cities. Now, ten years later, the second edition has been released. It describes 268 different species—a 20% increase over the first edition—and is illustrated with over 1,200 of my own high-quality photographs.

The book takes a visual approach to plant identification that makes it easy for anyone—including children—to learn how to identify urban plants. In addition to the color photos, a full page of text describes the physical features, habitat preferences, ecological value, and cultural significance of each species. In short, this book opens the door to appreciating urban nature.