Bill McNamara, author of Collected Poems: the Later Years, will be at Readers' Books on Wednesday, July 13th. There will be a 5:30 reception followed by a 6:00 reading. As both an accomplished horticulturalist and a poet, Bill has celebrated the natural world with sincerity and humor. Well-known for his expeditions and plant discoveries in Asia, Bill has published multiple articles on the botany of wild Asia and continues to lecture widely. In 2019, after retiring from the role of Executive Director of the Quarryhill Botanical Garden in Glen Ellen (now the Sonoma Botanical Garden), Bill was able to shift his focus to his poems, which reflect his unbound love for nature, whether from the high peaks of Tibet or the wild flowers of the Valley of the Moon. Through the poems, one can follow McNamara in his plant expeditions, reflect with him on the passing of time, share his love for his wife Joanna – who illustrated the book – and mourn the destruction of nature. The poems are imbued with the author’s keen sense of observation and playful love of language.

Proof of vaccination or negative PCR covid test within the last 72 hours are required for all live events; if attendees do not have these, they will be asked to wear a mask during the event. Due to unpredictable shifts in covid regulations, we may need to reschedule events. Please keep an eye on our website and social media for any updates.