Exploited

This Stump and the sign to explain it gave me some food for thought.  In this grove of trees we saw about 5 old Sequoia Redwoods.  These trees are really old- dating back 2,5oo years or so.   

I have seen the Coast Redwoods and was really surprised how different this species is.  The Coast Redwoods are dense, very tall and they can grow from sprouts at the base of the tree.   When the main tree dies there is ring of other trees that sprout up from the roots.  It is a very distinctive trait to see in the Redwood Forest.  I was actually expecting the same growth patterns from the Sequoia Redwoods.  I was wrong.

A few interesting facts:  

•  Giant Sequoias  have difficulty reproducing in their own habitat because the seeds have to germinate in mineral soils, with lots of sunlight and low vegetation.  
  
• Forest Fires help the cones release seeds and clear out vegetation so it can grow.
• This is the largest species of tree by volume.  
  

 Put this with the exploitation of these trees  (click on the picture to read)  and it is a wonder we have anything to see at all.   I am appreciative for those who preserved the area against further exploitation.    This drive through tree was already dead when the hole was carved out in 1878.  Thank goodness they had the sense to use a dead tree!