Sometimes I contemplate the amount of change that I have witnessed in my lifetime, now more than half a century. I often find it hard to comprehend that I already have two great-granddaughters and another great grandchild on the way. Then I consider the trees.
California is known for many things, mostly for its beaches and its progressive attitudes. Earthquakes have remained a subtle concern for those living there, but more recently it is the droughts and wildfires that have its residents on edge. I have made only a couple of short visits to the state, but what impressed me most were the giant redwoods and sequoias. The wildfires have burned more than 3,000 square miles this year alone. Last year, more than 10,000 of the giant sequoias were destroyed.
The loss of a human life is sad. The loss of any animal or bird, especially the extinction of entire species, is heartbreaking; but the loss of trees, some of which are more than 3,000 years old, is beyond devastating. The Sequoiadendron giganteum, or Giant Sequoia, is one of only three species of redwoods. They are found in a small, isolated area of only about 4,000 square miles, to the west of the Sierra Nevada mountains. They can reach a height of between 250 to 350 feet, depending on conditions. The oldest living and most well-known Giant Sequoia, named General Sherman by the botanist who had served under General Sherman during the Civil War, is estimated to be around 2,500 years old, give or take a few hundred years. The oldest sequoia known to have lived, was 3,266 years old!
The coastal redwoods, Sequoia sempervirens, occupy a thin strip of the northwest Pacific coastline, stretching into the southern edge of Oregon. The Metasequoia glyptostroboides, or Dawn Redwoods, have a considerably shorter lifespan, but they are one of the tallest trees overall and they are faster growing than their cousins. All three redwood species are threatened.
When I think about what these ancient ones have lived through and what they have witnessed, I am filled with great reverence for them. What ancient mysteries and wisdom lie within their enormous trunks? These stunning and enchanting trees remind me of how insignificant my own life is in the whole scheme of things. They remind me of how precious life is. I will pray for these trees. I will pray that they are protected from the devastating wildfires so that they can continue to inspire us and watch over our Earth, like royal kings and queens.
