THE REDWOODS

Here, sown by the Creator’s hand,
In serried ranks, the Redwoods stand;
No other clime is honoured so,
No other lands their glory know.

The greatest of Earth’s living forms,
Tall conquerors that laugh at storms;
Their challenge still unanswered rings,
Through fifty centuries of kings.

The nations that with them were young,
Rich empires, with their forts far-flung,
Lie buried now – their splendor gone;
But these proud monarchs still live on.

So shall they live, when ends our day,
When our crude citadels decay;
For brief the years allotted man,
But infinite perennials’ span.

This is their temple, vaulted high,
And here we pause with reverent eye,
With silent tongue and awe-struck soul;
For here we sense life’s proper goal.

To be like these, straight, true and fine,
To make our world, like theirs, a shrine;
Sink down, O traveller, on your knees,
God stands before you in these trees.

“The Redwoods”Author, Joseph B. Strauss, 1932

THE REDWOOD NAME

Redwood trees are the tallest trees on earth. Due to a unique root system, the trees reach these heights and stand secure. Each tree has a surprisingly shallow root system (approximately 1.8m to 3.6m deep) but the roots extend radially up to 15m from the individual tree. The roots intertwine creating a sophisticated system. The intertwined root system acts as a powerful anchor for each enormous tree that proves to be more effective than if the trees were to anchor independently.

Through this system individual trees and entire forests are able to weather harsh environmental challenges such as storms, flood and severe wind or even tornado. The anchoring system creates an environment where trees are inter-dependent and ultimately each tree becomes a part of a much greater whole. The bark of a Redwood tree is thick, fibrous and spongy. It retains moisture which protects the tree from external threats such as fire and insect infestation. A Redwood forest is a vibrant ecosystem providing home, shelter and protection to a plethora of plant and animal life. The forests are a key component of a greater system whereby they serve to clean the atmosphere through the capture of carbon dioxide and the release of oxygen.