I am no tree expert (dendrologists, I believe they are called) but I do know a thing or two about trees. I know how they clean the air and I know about the process that makes their leaves change color in the fall. On a somewhat rare occasion I can even take a look at a tree and tell you what kind it is. Before I ramble on for hours about trees and make myself actually sound like a dendrologist, I will get to the point. I have a couple favorite species of trees. Along with the Joshua Tree I really like the Sequoia.
Now, many of you might be asking why the sequoia when there are so many other tree species growing around the world. Why not choose the eucalyptus tree which has more than 1000 uses in everything from medicine to cosmetics? Or the pine tree that many of us decorate around the holidays or build our homes with? Well, while most people might like trees for what they have to offer, I prefer a tree that has been around longer than most other living things on our planet, even the dinosaurs.
Sequoia trees, or Sequoiadendrons, can be traced to the Triassic Period, over 200 million years ago when dinosaurs first appeared. Sequoiadendrons were the dominant tree in North America and Europe during the Jurassic Period (180 to 135 million years ago) and the Cretaceous Period (35 to 70 million years ago) and while dinosaurs disappeared near the end of the Cretaceous Period, the Sequoiadendrons lived on. This makes the sequoia special and is one reason this particular tree makes me smile.
Aside from its longevity here on our planet, the sequoia is a beautiful tree that is grown in groves and takes special care to grow. The sequoia can also grow to become one of the largest living plant species anywhere as it grows to an average height of 230–279 ft. and 16–23 ft. in diameter. Some sequoias have been recorded up to 311 ft. in height and 29.5 ft. in diameter! You can even drive your car through the middle of some! Can you imagine building a treehouse at the top of one of these trees? I would be so scared!
I say let everyone else keep their small trees, I will take my sequoias over them and let the smile on my face grow as wide as the tree itself.
Have you ever seen a Sequoia tree in real life? Leave a comment and share your opinion and experience. Would love to hear from you.
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