"I think that I shall never see..."

After sharing my love for nature, specifically trees, I thought I'd share some of my favorite California natives through photos I've taken through the years. I hope you enjoy these trees as much as I do.

Coast Redwood

I'll begin with the tree I wake to every morning. Coast Redwoods are the tallest of all trees and some of the oldest living things on the planet. What amazes me the most is how these trees can survive during the very dry summer months. They only grow in a narrow strip of coastal California, from Monterey county to an area of Southern Oregon for a reason. The summer months along the coast are foggy nearly every day and these trees rely on this to keep them alive. They collect moisture from the fog in their branches and literally cause rain to fall. We call it redwood rain and many's the morning I would wake to wet car seats because I forgot to roll up my windows.

Twisted Redwood

Redwoods are truly amazing trees. There are actually several redwoods in this grove whose trunks are twisted. There's no obvious reason for them to have grown this way. In other cases, there are redwoods with huge chimneys, areas of the center of the tree that have been burnt out by fire. Often the heart wood seems nearly destroyed, but the tree continues to thrive. They rarely fall from the base. More often they drop branches known as 'widow makers'. The impact when they hit the ground causes a large 'bang'. I have seen some that are in excess of twenty feet and extremely heavy.

 

The Coast Redwood's closest relative is the Giant Sequoia. They only grow in areas of the western Sierra Nevada in California. This picture is of "Bull Buck" in the Nelder Grove. It is nearly 250ft high with a circumference at ground level of 100ft; yet, it is not one of the top 40 largest Giant Sequoia! They have a much greater mass than their coastal cousin, perhaps because they get more moisture. Both sequoias have an entire ecosystem that lives in their upper branches with species scientists are still discovering.

Trying to see the top

It's really difficult to get an entire tree in one shot. I think this perspective gives you the best idea of how massive they truly are.

Coast Live Oak

There are many varieties of oak tree in California. They come in all shapes and sizes. Some lose their leaves and others are evergreen. My favorite, by far, are any that grow as gnarly as this one. If you stare long enough, you will see the elves and dwarves peeking around the trunks and catch the flutter of faerie wings. Really, keep looking.

Elfin Forest

This oak grove is known as the Elfin Forest. The tallest trees in this area are hundreds of years old, but the tallest is only 20 feet. This particular grove is no more than 10 feet high.

Joshua Tree

Joshua Trees grow primarily in the Mojave Desert. Driving past a field of them reminds me of a Dr. Seuss book. I'm always looking for Horton or the Lorax.

Incense Cedar

Incense Cedar are often grown in California for use as Christmas trees. They have a wonderful aroma. I particularly like the fall colors on this one.

Monterey Cypress

Monterey Cypress, though iconic up and down the California coastline, only occurs naturally at Cypress Point in Pebble Beach and Point Lobos in Carmel. This one is at Half Moon Bay. They look as tortured as the Bristlecone Pine I spoke of in a previous post.

Ponderosa Pine

Ponderosa Pines is common to western states. Here it grows next to coast redwoods. I love the jigsaw puzzle bark and the huge pinecones.

Jeffrey Pine

And last, my favorite, Jeffrey Pine. You have to drive to see these trees. They only grow from 5000 to 7000 ft. They are quite similar to Ponderosa Pines with long needles and large cones. I wished I had a better picture, but it still wouldn't capture why this I love this tree so much. For that, you have to walk right up to it, place your nose against the bark, and take a long sniff. Butterscotch! No, really, they smell just like butterscotch candies.