Sunday, May 03, 2015

Trees for Fun Friday: The Giant Sequoia

Twitter
Giant Sequoias, Parker Grove, Sequoia National Park, CA
We are now on our 7th week of Trees for Fun Friday, hosted by Melissa, of Blogging For Fun. We are featuring trees for 8 weeks, and in the last 3 weeks, I am featuring California trees where a National Park has been named for them, and has been established for their preservation. Last Friday, I featured the Joshua Trees in Joshua Tree National Park, and this week, I am featuring the giant sequoias.
Me and General Sherman Tree, Giant Forest, Sequoia National Park, CA
In terms of total volume, the sequoia stands alone as the largest living tree on Earth. The General Sherman tree is the largest tree in the world by volume. General Sherman tree is between 2,300 and 2,700 years old and continues to add enough wood growth each year. The largest of the sequoias are as tall as a 26-storey building. In all the world, giant sequoias grow naturally only on the west slope of California's Sierra Nevada ( sierra nevada is spanish for snowy range) , at elevations of 5,000 - 7,000 ft.
Us and the Sequoias
Although these trees are giants, but they actually sprout from seeds that are so small and light, that look like oat flakes. Mature trees may produce each year 2,000 egg-sized cones that collectively bear 500,000 seeds. The seeds however are only dispersed as cones are opened, but the cones hang on the tree green and closed for up to 20 years. Douglas squirrel, or a tiny cone-boring beetle may cause these cones to open, but fire is the main agent in the dispersal of seeds. The fire ashes also enhance sequoia seedling survival.
Sequoia National Park, California's first National park and America's second oldest, was established in 1890 to protect these giant trees.
@ Sequoia National Park South Entrance
Sequoia National Park does not contain only these giant trees but also contains Mt. Whitney, the tallest mountain in the US outside of Alaska. Sequoia National Park offers a diverse and unspoiled beauty, from the towering giant sequoias to huge mountains and rugged foothills, to deep canyons and vast caverns.
Divided Highway 180, Sequoia National Park, CA
The sequoias have seen civilization come and go, testifying to nature's admirable perseverance surviving countless fires and drought.
♥♥
Facebook Twitter StumbleUpon Digg Delicious Reddit Technorati Mixx Linkedin

25 comments:

  1. Holy smoke. So damn enormous. :D

    ReplyDelete
  2. These are magnificent trees and you really look tiny next to them.


    At 65, I've done it! My poetry book - Life's Journey by Carmen Henesy - is out on Amazon!
    ( Poems about the things that have been important to me in my journey through life, some humorous, some sad, some that may have meaning to you as well )
    http://www.amazon.com/Lifes-Journey-1-Carmen-Henesy/dp/1451547366/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1274652997&sr=1-1

    ReplyDelete
  3. amazing, I didn't know there are tree THAT big... I mean they are HUGE!! :D

    ReplyDelete
  4. If I am one of the tress, I need to stand for more than 2000 years.

    Oh, too tired.

    ReplyDelete
  5. They are so huge, betchai! And I always love the information that you've providing too.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Interesting about the seed dispersal, that cones hang on the tree green and closed for up to 20 years. Amazing pictures, Betchai!

    ReplyDelete
  7. That's colossal trees! Even human can dwell inside!

    ReplyDelete
  8. You looked like you really enjoyed your trip there based on your poses. General Sherman has so many stories to tell for being around so long.

    ReplyDelete
  9. So majestic and gallant, betchai. I adore trees in every shape and form. Love the photo of you with the signage - very cute :)

    ReplyDelete
  10. These big daddy's are my all time favorites. So majestic and beautiful, tall, and proud.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Beth, you have captured the trees beautifully! Seeing trees as enormous as these is like celebrating life. Makes me want to see them one day. Magnificent! :) Mother Earth's pride! :)

    ReplyDelete
  12. OMG! they are tall and magnificent trees! Dwarfed among them! I cannot even wrap my arms around them.

    Beauty just around our little corner of the world.

    ReplyDelete
  13. hi betchai! happy weekend!

    the towering trees are scary..so gigantic! hehe

    ReplyDelete
  14. These giant sequoias are like a fantasy to me. I see them only in pictures and video. I can only imagine what it would be like to stand next to one of these giants, like you do. It must be a wonderful feeling.

    ReplyDelete
  15. We went hiking yesterday, Franklin Canyon, up in the Beverly Hills area.
    Was tired a bit, with a bumped knee, hehehe, the joys of aging.

    The flag display was taken on Malibu Canyon Road, at the corner of PCH.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Those trees are so amazing. The only things we have here that are similar are skyscrapers.

    ReplyDelete
  17. those tress are humongous, excellent series.

    ReplyDelete
  18. I thought you were in Muriel Parks.:-) Those sequoias are huge! Speaking of blog changes, I am constantly battling with mine! It doesn't like me messing with it so it would go bi-zerked- LOL- I keep loosing links, tire of having to put them back...etc...But I like your new look Betchai. Good job.

    ReplyDelete
  19. As a project, I am asked to analyze any two plants in our world. I was interested about the Giant Sequoia tree, but is that still considered a plant?

    ReplyDelete
  20. The Giant Squoia is the world's largest tree in terms of total volume. So how is water able to reach the very tips of these giant trees?

    ReplyDelete
  21. Nice brief and this enter helped me alot in my college assignement. Gratefulness you as your information.

    ReplyDelete
  22. There is so much to growing a tree, like PH value of soil, the right air moisture throughout the year and the right moisture for the root system, the right temperature range.

    ReplyDelete
  23. I tried and tried o snap pic of tree like that but not successful. Lovely shots Betchai :)

    ReplyDelete
  24. I especially appreciate trees. Sequoia's are on my bucket list for something to see in person.

    ReplyDelete

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!