An ancient, cathedral, redwood forest, is a place like none other on this earth, but these unlogged coastal redwood forests (Sequoia sempervirens, where sempervirens means forever green or forever living) are sadly a small percentage of what once stood. If you care to reverse this trend, there are many conservation organizations that specialize in the redwood forest ecosystem, such as the Save-the-Redwoods-League. These forests are so worth preserving even if you never lay your eyes on them. Better yet, find your way to one of these forest gems and see for yourself why they deserve our care, and our support.

For me these forests are a place of deep spiritual meaning, where I can stop the clamor of daily life and reflect on the things that really matter...family, friends, wilderness, and wild places. These forests have a way of focusing ones attention on something other than oneself, which is always a good thing. How can this not be so. To wander these forests and not feel the rhythm of their being would be a sad state of affairs.

The coastal redwood is another superlative California treasure, measuring to over 360' in height, and living in excess of 2,000 years. In fact this is the tallest living thing on earth. The extent of its range is a thin coastal strip from near Brookings, Oregon to the Big Sur coast in central California. They thrive where winters are usually mild and summers are tempered with thick fog. Fortunately, due to the diligence of others, there are small groves preserved all along its range but more needs to be done to preserve entire functioning ecosystems. Thanks to the Save-the-Redwoods-League a 25,000 acre tract of coastal redwood forest, the Mill Creek acquisition, was recently purchased and moved into the public domain of the great state of California. We have camped in this forest and take great pleasure in its acquisition.

To enter an ancient redwood forest expect to find the ubiquitous redwood sorrel (Oxalis oregana), eureka lily (Lilium occidentale), tiger lily (Lilium pardalinum), many species of fern, California rhododendron (Rhododendron macrophyllum), western azalea (Rhododendron occidentale), tan oak (Lithocarpus densiflorus), vine maple (Acer circinatum), and many other pleasant and interesting types of flora.

These forests are host to many special creatures such as the spotted owl, marbled murrelet, banana slug, black bears, Roosevelt elk, mule deer, mountain lion, and a host of other wonderful creatures great and small.

The other redwood relative in California resides on the west slopes of the Sierra Nevada and are known as the Giant Sequoia's (Sequoia gigantea). Where does the third known remaining Sequoia relative reside? Hint, it is not on this continent.