Starting a new series Tree Talk Tuesdays! You can expect these posts on the THIRD TUESDAY each month. This will be a quick look into some of the most unique trees from around the United States. A place to learn some fun facts… and dive a bit deeper than I do in my books. The first, and most logical tree to post about is the Coast Redwood.
- Scientific name: Sequoia sempervirens
- Live for 1,200 – 2,000 years
- The tallest living thing on earth, the tallest reaching 380 feet
- The tree trunk can be up to 20-30 feet diameter (they are measured and classified very differently, “single trunk”, “double trunk” “multi trunk” so there are various opinions on the “widest tree”)
- The bark of a redwood tree can be up to 2 feet thick
- Redwoods are in the conifer family
- Their cones are the size of an olive
Though named Coast Redwoods, they actually do not like the salt air from the coast. The coastline in their range will often be a mixed Sitka Spruce and Douglas Fir forest, slowly transitioning to Redwoods moving inland.
Though so tall, the coast redwood has a fairly shallow root system. Roots only go into the ground about 10 feet, but can spread outward up to 100 feet. Therefore they support each other by those intertwined outward roots (so many life lessons can be learned from this alone, build that support system for when life gets tricky). Because of the height of the tree, and the shallow root system, they can be susceptible toppling over in high winds.
Fallen trees still provide so much life to the forest. They become a place of shelter, and as debris from other trees begins to build on the fallen tree (that debris is known as duff), it becomes a great place to other plants to grow!
Ferns, redwood sorrel, mosses, mushrooms, and even other trees can be found growing on these fallen redwood trees!
It’s January, so it is rainy season here in the Redwoods. The trees are soaking up all the rain they can get. During the dry summer months, Redwoods rely heavily on the dense coastal fog for the moisture they need!!
There is so much that can be talked about when it comes to the redwood tree- they are INCREDIBLE TREES…disease resistant, insect resistant, fireproof, really old, really wide, really tall! In fact, the treetops have their own eco system! Really!! So much to share…maybe a Tree Top Tuesday post will be in order down the road 🙂
I hope you enjoyed the first of many Tree Talk Tuesdays! I think these are going to be fun little posts to do once a month, as I continue to research and illustrate for upcoming Baby Ranger Books. Add your email and Stay Up to Date, so you do not miss these fun TREE TALK TUESDAYS! – let the adventures begin-
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