Redwoods Are Awesome. Be A Redwood

May 24, 2025 Crescent City, CA

“The redwoods, once seen, leave a mark, create a vision that stays with you always.”  John Steinbeck

I never thought much about trees. They’ve always just been part of the scenery…literally. All my life, I’ve enjoyed their fruit, the shade they produce on a hot summer day and the beautiful colors they turn in the fall. I took trees for granted…until the last few days when I've been living among the magnificent and endangered coast redwoods.

Since Friday, Rhoda has been parked in a campsite surrounded by huge  redwood stumps that are giving life to new young trees. Jamie, Marjie and I have been hiking in the nearby Redwood National and State Park; an extraordinary place where The National Park Service and California State Parks are working to safeguard redwoods and rejuvenate the lands for our enjoyment, learning and inspiration.

I have indeed enjoyed, learned and been inspired by Redwoods in a life-changing way. They are not just the oldest, tallest and most magnificent trees on the plant, redwoods are living beings that support, care and rely on each other. Redwoods have intertwined root systems that spread horizontally and connect with the roots of others. Their shared root network helps stabilize the trees during strong winds and floods and it plays a role in their remarkable ability to survive wildfire. Intertwined roots also allow the redwoods to share nutrients, especially during periods of stress or when one tree may have more access to sunlight and water than another. And the root system creates new life when new trees sprout from the roots of others. Redwoods are even magnanimous in death. When a redwood falls, it decomposes, enriching the soil for other plants, animals and even young redwoods that emerge from heart of the fallen giant.

A redwood grove is a holy place. Very little light penetrates the lofty canopy and the thick carpet of natural debris on the forest floor, mutes the sound of footsteps. The result is a stillness that fills the soul with peace and joy; a gift for which I will always be grateful and will never forget. If only our world was more like a redwood grove. Goodnight from our crew On The Rhoda...under a canopy of remakable, awe-inspiring redwoods.