This feature story is about the awe-inspiring majestic sequoia trees of California, and the profound message they convey about the interconnectedness of all life on Earth. Yes, I know most of us who read the Happy Herald live on the east coast of the United States, and many are in Florida. So why write about trees in California?
Here’s a bit of the backstory….
This past summer, I had the good fortune to visit my childhood friend, Martha, in Arnold, California. Arnold is in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, halfway between Lake Tahoe to the north and Yosemite to the south. It is known, among other things, for the Calaveras Big Trees State Park, where two sequoia groves can be found with 1,100 trees. Additionally, there are two ancient sequoia trees that are next to each other, and now burned from a prescribed fire that was conducted to help thin the forest.
The burned trees have spawned a grassroots effort to protect the sequoias from further harm. I learned about this from two of the advocates for education and action, the founders of SaveBigTrees.org, Marcie Powers and Tom Van Lokeren. They shared some startling information about the giant, iconic sequoias, and I was fascinated by their story and the sequoias’ intricacies. Powers and Van Lokeren, I discovered, were outraged after fire damaged the beloved five-century-old-sequoiapair, known as “The Orphans,” which were roasted in a controlled burn – and one may not survive.
Sequoias are among the most awe-inspiring trees in the world. My friend Martha who took me to the Big Trees and has lived among the redwoods for decades, shared this with me to share with you. She wanted to convey how utterly spiritual it is to be in the sequoia grove. “When walking among the big trees at the Calaveras Big Trees State Park, I feel a personal,spiritual connection to nature and history. I am walking on sacred land; for these trees are ancient and I am a part of them, as they are a part of me. I am lucky/blessed/fortunate to see their beauty.”
The sequoias are native to the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada in California. Martha took me to see them. Did you know that giant sequoias are renowned for their incredible size? They are the largest trees on Earth by volume, and some of them can reach heights of over 300 feet, which would be the equivalent of a 25-story building.
The tallest known giant sequoia, named “Hyperion,” stands at 379.7 feet tall. These trees have massive trunks, with diameters often exceeding 20 feet or more. Sequoias are incredibly long-lived trees and can survive for over 3,000 years, making them some of the oldest living organisms on Earth. These colossal giants not only stand as a testament to time, but also serve as a living symbol of the intricate interconnectedness that sustains all life on our planet.
The Science of Connection: Scientific discoveries have revealed how sequoias are not solitary, but part of a vast, underground network of interconnected roots. These ancient giants communicate, share resources, and support one another, underscoring the importance of community in nature, and I dare say, in our human world too.
Symbolizing the Web of Life: We can, if we choose to, draw parallels between the Sequoias’ interconnectedness, and the greater ecological context, because these trees serve as a powerful symbol for the interconnectedness of all living beings, according to leading ecologists and environmentalists.
Paul Stamets, for example, is a mycologist and author, known for his research on the role of fungi in ecosystems. If you really want to see how biological underground networks work to communicate, check out the documentary, “Fantastic Fungi” on Netflix, where Stamets explains the importance of mycorrhizal networks and fungal relationships in connecting various species of plants and trees. He is quoted as saying, “What I’ve learned from the mycelium is that if I take care of the forest, the forest will take care of me.” Most importantly, Stamets believes that, ”Life supports life. This is the ethos that we must embrace to take care of our planet and ourselves.”
Conservation Efforts:
We’re all in this together. As I shed light on the challenges sequoias face today, including climate change, wildfires, and human impact, efforts to protect these giant trees and their fragile ecosystem points to the need for these same efforts be applied to care for our Planet Earth.
In my research, I learned that over 250,000 people visit the sequoias each year. seeking to experience a sense of awe-inspiring wonder. Looking at the trees creates a sense of awe, and can catalyze an emotional and spiritual warmth within. In an age where environmental awareness is more critical than ever, these “Giants of Unity” aren’t far away – on some level, they are where you are too. It’s you and me and the oceans and trees and the ecosystem and the alligators and wild nature preserves…. Isn’t it time to reevaluate our unique relationship with nature, and appreciate the interconnectedness that binds us all?
Call To Action By bringing you into the world of sequoias, my wish is for each of us to develop a deeper appreciation for the environment, a sense of responsibility for its protection, and the ability to see how we are connected, from sea to shining sea.
The Mission of SaveBigTrees.org is to urge the Governor of California to pull out all the stops and commit the necessary critical additional resources to provide desperately needed attention in Calaveras Big Trees State Park, where an astonishingly overgrown forest makes the 1,100 giant sequoias and surrounding communities extremely vulnerable to catastrophic fire.
If you choose to learn more, go to SaveBigTrees.org and sign the petition on their website.
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Liz Sterling is a writer, coach, teacher, broadcaster, advice columnist and inspirational public speaker. Meet her at: AskLiz.com
