From the highlands of Scotland to the vast wilderness of the Pacific Northwest, David Douglas, pioneering botanist, blazed a trail in the 1800's that opened up a new era of discovery.

When he was little more than a child it became clear that Douglas was fascinated with plants and had a driving curiosity. At eleven he became an apprentice at the famous Scone palace gardens near Glasgow. Here he met nurserymen and plant collectors from all over the world, learned about strange and familiar plants and was soon experimenting and "botanizing" in the field. 
At twenty-four he left Glasgow for a post with the Horticultural Society of London and his first assignment was to America to collect samples of fruit trees that would also grow on English soil. Thus he began his career as a botanist and world traveler.

The story of Douglas' achievements—in Canada, Oregon, Alaska, California, Idaho and finally the Hawaiian Islands—is one of fiercely challenging conflict with the forces of nature, with hostile natives and suspicious settlers, and with the ravages of disease and injury. It is the story, too, of relentless scientific detective work, as Douglas followed the twisting trail of plant discovery, ending tragically in a lonely grave on a tropical island. The giant fir trees of Oregon bear his name, a fitting memorial to a man who searched for seeds and found fame.

From the dust jacket