Why Do Some Trees Grow in Spirals?
onHere are the most likely reasons why some trees take on this curious growth form.
Parks Forward Commission – Time to Reform the State Parks System
onThere is a ray of hope for California’s underfunded State Parks system: a new high-level commission is being appointed with a mandate to transform the system – soon. As those of us who work in the system know, the State …
Redwoods at the 2013 Chelsea Flower Show
onThis week, a redwood forest came alive at the 2013 Chelsea Flower Show. Our partners, the Garden Club of America, celebrated their centennial with an lush exhibit featuring understory ferns and flowers of the coast redwood forest. Large translucent photographs …
Listen to an Oral History of Stewarts Point
onStewarts Point Ranch, a property we own and protect in northern Sonoma County, has a long and interesting history. The Richardson family settled at Stewarts Point in the 1860’s. Recently, a wonderful oral history project called “The Story Shed” interviewed …
The Toughest Plants in the World
onIt’s not often that I hear about a creature more resilient than redwoods. After all, they grow faster, live longer, and reproduce more prolifically than just about any other tree. Be that as it may, some very small, unassuming creatures …
Burl Thieves Attack Redwoods
onLast year, I saw a man ride a bicycle down the road from Ladybird Johnson Grove in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park carrying a large chainsaw. I was baffled at the sight and now realize just how terrible an omen …
Explore, Dream, Discover – Introducing the Parent’s Guide to the Coast Redwoods!
onWith Memorial Day, school vacations, and summer travel just around the corner, we’re thrilled here at the League to introduce the first ever Parent’s Guide to the Coast Redwoods! Not just for parents, of course, the guide is a valuable …
30,000 Volunteers Help Keep California State Parks Running!
on. . . so reported Major General Anthony L. Jackson, Director of the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR), to the State Parks Commission last Friday morning. That is a lot of volunteers! If those 30,000 volunteers were to lie …
Pelican Recovery Brings Hope
onI grew up in Northern California and witnessed the inspiring recovery of an endangered species over the past few decades. As a frequent beach goer throughout my life, I remember it was unusual to see brown pelicans diving along the …
It’s Picnic Season! Ready for a Delicious Day in the Redwoods?
onThere are a lot of health benefits to a day in the redwoods – exercise and stress reduction are just a couple. Nice weather is good motivation to get active in nature and kick-start the healthy habits that went into …
I Support Team Standish
onStanding on the bank of the Eel River, surrounded by local volunteers describing the park as the ‘lifeblood of the community,’ it’s hard to believe that Standish-Hickey State Recreation Area almost didn’t make it. Despite its well-developed trail and campground …
Redwood forests – no cell phones!
onIt is all the rage! New York Times columnist Nick Bilton writes this week that a founder of Pinterest “drive[s] until cell service drops off (yes, this is possible) and spend[s] the weekend engaged with all things analog. . .”. …
Seen Sorrel Cry?
onThey were perfectly placed drops of water on the outer edge of each redwood sorrel (Oxalis oregana) leaflet. At first, I thought that I was just seeing drops of fog that had not yet evaporated. Then, I realized that these …
The Last Redwood of the East Bay
onHigh above the sprawling city, the heat from rooftops and roads casts a shimmering haze mirrored by the ocean beyond. Here, rising above the oak and bay forest, its trunk twisted and scarred by centuries of wind and fire, it …
The Healing Power of Redwoods
on“It is like being in a cathedral.” “Ancient spirits of the Native Americans are still living among the redwoods.” “I always feel healed after a visit to the redwoods.” These are the kinds of emotions many of us experience in …
Humboldt’s Original Skunk Weed
onIt smells a little skunky along the trail. Did a fellow hiker light up a joint ahead of you or it could be a botanical wonder of the coast redwoods and beyond?! Skunk cabbage emerges early in the year in …
May Membership Madness!
onIt’s a Great Time to Join the League! The best hope for keeping the redwoods protected is making sure there are people like you committed to supporting them year after year. That’s why I hope you’ll join us as we kick …
A Rare Plant Inhabits the Forest – Or Does It?
onIt was a beautiful day for a hike along Peters Creek. The ancient forest of the Santa Cruz Mountains was in full bloom; chattering woodpeckers, the tumbling creek, giant redwood and Douglas fir trees all begged for acknowledgement and appreciation. …
Clone the best, forget the rest?
onPeople are cloning the world’s oldest redwoods. Archangel Ancient Tree Archive is planting their clones en masse around the world in an effort to create robust forests of the future. They say these ancient clones will reverse deforestation across the …
Searching for the Elusive Marbled Murrelet
onThe League’s Shady Dell property was a busy place on Monday. Armed with binoculars and aerial photo maps, four League staff members were joined by a couple of staff from the Department of Fish and Wildlife and a pair of consultants to search for potential nest sites for the marbled murrelet.