In Celebration Of Trees; In The Company Of Whales

This winning pair of nature videos, which originally aired on The Discovery Channel, offer superlative cinematography of both flora and fauna. In Celebration Of Trees, directed and filmed by Al Giddings (Ocean Symphony) is a beautiful paean to the "world's oldest living things." Shot in the Olympic National Park, Florida Everglades, and the Shenandoah Valley, the program mixes gorgeous nature photography and interviews with a forest engineer, a violin maker, a biologist, and a park ranger. Sadly, even as we sit and admire this multi-colored beauty, we are told that the worldwide cutting of trees grows each year. Quotes from William Blake, John Muir, Eric Sloane, and John Fowles increase our appreciation of trees in this excellent program for all ages. In The Company Of Whales, also registering high on the Richter scale of sumptuous cinematography features host Dr. Roger Payne, a scientist who's been studying whales for decades. Many of the popular myths about the ferocity of the whale are not only disproved but also scoffed at by Payne, who "pets" whales that come alongside his boat. Shot in 15 locations around the world, including Patagonia, and narrated by Oscar-winner Jessica Tandy, In The Company of Whales features footage and commentary on the Humpback, Sperm, Bottlenose, Right, Blue, and Beluga whales. Oh, and if you're ever tongue-tied at a party, here's a surefire icebreaker: "Did you know that the mature Right whale's testicles weigh 2,200 pounds each?" Both of these inexpensive and lovely documentaries are highly recommended. (Available from most distributors.)