Rare Albino Redwood Tree

Albino Redwood Tree

Contrast in Albino and Green Needles

Albino Redwood Needles

Albino redwoods are the only white evergreens in the world, and are extremely rare.  Their locations are closely guarded secrets, except for two public instances.  We saw this albino tree at Big Sur, California.  Since albino redwoods lack chlorophyll and can’t make their own energy, they always grow as a sprout from a mother trunk.  It was a privilege to see such a unique and special tree!  Read more about this tree at Fernwood Campground at:  https://www.fernwoodbigsur.com/albino-redwood-tree.html

Muir Woods National Monument

Muir Woods Tree Cross Section

Walk in the Redwoods

Ferns & Moss Understory

Muir Woods National Monument (north of San Francisco) contains the world’s tallest trees.  Coastal redwoods can grow up to 380 feet in height – the equivalent of a 35-story building!  Although the trees are tall, the roots are shallow and extend only 8 feet below the surface.   Amazingly these large trees have pine cones the size of marbles, and seeds the size of oatmeal flakes.  Muir Woods is so inspirational that it was chosen to host the first United Nations Peace Conference in 1945. 

Many of the redwoods in the park are over 1,000 years old.  The cross section shows a redwood tree that fell in 1930.  The center point marks when the tree was born.  The second white ring from the outer edge marks 1492, when Columbus discovered America.  The first white ring from the outer edge marks 1776, when the Declaration of Independence was signed.  The outer edge marks when the tree fell down at 1,021 years old. 

Orange Jelly Mushroom

Orange Jelly Mushroom

This mushroom is called Orange Jelly or Witches’ Butter.  It grows on logs in the redwood forest.

Oyster Mushroom

Oyster Mushroom

This picture shows the underside of an oyster mushroom in the redwood forest.  We lit the inside with a flashlight to highlight its beauty.

Icicle Mushroom

Icicle Mushroom

We saw this spectacular icicle mushroom growing under the redwoods at Huddart Park in the San Francisco Bay Area.  This tooth fungus is one of our most beautiful mushrooms.  Incredibly fantastic and special pictures of mushrooms can be seen at:  http://www.thisiscolossal.com/2014/05/fantastic-fungi-steve-axford/?fb_action_ids=10152327608696598&fb_action_types=og.likes

Redwoods are Tall

Tall Redwoods

We always enjoy walking in the redwood forest. Coastal redwoods only grow along a narrow strip of land between Big Sur in Central California and the Oregon border. Here’s a view from the ground up of the world’s tallest trees.