Feb 18, 20205 min read

Giant Sequoia Trees

We're planting a forest and including the largest trees in the world!

Every year we plant at least 100 new trees on our acreage, some years it's more than 350 in a single spring. We have 14 years of experience planting, nurturing, and maintaining a thriving working forest. So after extensive research, we decided to branch out from our regular species (Western Redwood Cedar, Douglas Fir, Alder, Maple, and Hemlock) to include the beautiful and breathtaking, Giant Sequoia.

Commonly known as Giant Sequoia, Sequoiadendron giganteum are the largest trees to ever inhabit the earth, and are among the oldest. At this moment in time, they only grow natively in the Sierra Nevada region of California, although they can be grown in numerous locations around the world - as they were once widely (and wildly) growing throughout much of North America and parts of Europe.

The Memories of Giants

When I was a child, my parents packed up the car, with the three of us kids in the back seat and we made our way from Spokane, WA all the way to Mexico and back. There was so much to see and experience, yet our time spent in the Redwood Forest was the most magical, mesmerizing, and unforgettable part of that trip. Even to this day, it's one of my favorite experiences of childhood.

Standing among trees far older than I'll ever be, and looking into the unreachable canopy hundreds of feet above my fingertips as I reached toward the sky, was both humbling and deeply spiritual. Being in the presence of trees that were alive when our ancestors thrived, makes me wonder if they saw these same trees; if they touched their bark, and stood here looking up and experiencing they calm joy I felt too.

The Sequoia Forest

The other park that always fascinated me yet remains out of touch is Sequoia National Park. Due to a medical error by my doctors, surgeon, and their pharmaceuticals, I live with the challenging and permanently disabling damage they created. These limitations don't allow my body to survive being moved very far or very frequently. Because I live most of my life confined to less than 100 yards, I'll never get to experience the sights, smells, and energy of the Sequoia National Park. Only through images, video and in my dreams do I get to experience this fantasy forest.

Until it occurred to me... if we can't bring me to the forest, let's bring the forest to me. After much research, we decided Giant Sequioas can grow in our area, and it's worth giving it a try. Sure, they won't be enormous towering giants within my lifetime, but their growth rate is so phenomenal that I'll get to experience their childhood - and that sparks joy in the childhood memories of my heart.

Our Forest

Our current acreage, here in Oregon, is home to hundreds of trees including the Western Red Cedar and others that make up the Redwood Forests of Northern California.

We're adding Giant Sequoias to our Pacific Northwest rainforest - where these giants once grew many years ago.

I would love to see more of this breath-taking species throughout the planet once again, so my husband and I are doing our part to establish a new grove of Giant Sequoias - right here in Oregon.

Here's our Giant Sequoia journey...

February 9, 2020 -- OUR FIRST GIANT SEQUOIA TREES

“We planted more than 100 Giant Sequoia trees!”

All of our Giant Sequoias were seedlings (except one), most were only six inches tall.

We purchased one Giant Sequoia who was two years old. This one was 24" tall and 16" wide when we welcomed it to our soil.

Every new tree is like a tasty treat for our resident deer population, so each tree requires deer protection until the growing tip reaches five feet tall.

We prepare for the annual tree planting by removing any dangerous trees on our acreage. We occasionally remove some of the dead or dying trees also -- but leave these as long as they're safe (away from our most-used trails) since dead and dying trees provide the perfect real estate for woodpeckers. And once the house is built, numerous other wildlife thrive in these trees as well. Removing the dangerous trees allows not only a safer and healthier forest but additional sunlight for the new seedlings so they can thrive.

The color coded flags (seen on the left side of the photo, above) delineate which type of tree to plant in that exact spot. What look like vertical white lines throughout the photo are where a new seedling has been planted and is now safely under a photodegradable deer protective barrier. These protective barriers will be traded out for larger ones as the trees grow.

A Rare Giant Sequoia Grove

Certainly, we're not the only ones planting Giant Sequoia trees, but as far as I know, (please message me if I'm wrong), we may have the largest private grove of Giant Sequoias in Oregon (or perhaps anywhere in the United States outside of California). And we plan to plant more next spring as well!

"The largest privately owned Giant Sequoia grove outside of California.”

------- APRIL 2020 UPDATE -------

Watching Them Grow

Giant Sequoia seedling — 1 1/2" of growth in 30 days!

I can't even describe the joy of watching these gorgeous trees grow and thrive. In only a few months since we introduced them to our acreage and found beautiful places for each of them to set down roots, they've not only grown but many have doubled in size! They seem to love it here at the monastery as much as we do.

A few of the seedlings required some TLC, so they were placed in pots and have been growing on the back deck of the monastery.

In the first 30 days of the growing season, the bright green tips seem to explode with growth! They've grown 1 1/2" in 30 days!! (As seen in the first photo.)

------- JUNE 2020 UPDATE -------

Root Bound in 90 Days

Three months into the growing season, this tiny (used to be 6" tall) seedling has outgrown this 2 1/2 quart pot. It's root bound in only 90 days!!

“These little guys are born to be giants.”

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------- OCTOBER 2020 UPDATE -------

Triple The Size In A Single Growing Season!

Many of the Giant Sequoia trees have more than doubled in size during their first growing season (spring until fall). The largest ones have gone from 6" tall to 19" tall, and 15" across. That's more than triple their size in less than a year!

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