Seasons of the Pines: A Photographic Tour of the New Jersey Pine Barrens

The Pine Barrens, a 1.1-million-acre wilderness area located within an hour’s drive from Philadelphia and New York City, offers beauty and tranquility in a state more typically associated with the Turnpike and sprawl. In Seasons of the Pines, nature photographer Bob Birdsall unveils the wonders of the wildlife, plant life, and landscape that make up this little-known natural area, designated America’s first National Reserve in 1978.From the cranberry bogs and cedar streams to the pygmy pines and deep forests, this photo album depicts it all in glorious color. Many of the wildlife and plant species shown here are designated endangered or threatened and are found only in the New Jersey Pine Barrens or isolated pockets elsewhere. Birdsall’s remarkable portrayal of this unique landscape focuses our attention on the state’s rapidly diminishing green spaces, and reminds us of the necessity of preserving these areas for future generations.