Sequoia sempervirens
the world’s tallest, living trees.
There’s not much one can say about these incredibly beautiful, long-lived, resilient, fire-resistant and evergreen sky scraping giants! Even on a warm day the air within the forest stays reasonably cool. There’s really nothing else quite like it! The oldest tree at Armstrong Woods is believed to be around 1,400 years old!
This area was the home of the Kashaya Pomo Native American people before the arrival of Russian fur traders in the early 1800s, and later of course the lumber barons. The lives of the native populations were forever changed.
The world’s only remaining coast redwood forests exist naturally along the Pacific coast from Central California to just north of the Oregon border. Underneath these tall trees you’ll see sword ferns; lots of redwood sorrel; perhaps a raven or Stellar’s jay, lizards, banana slugs, trillium wildflowers …
Around 1875, Colonel James B. Armstrong, a lumber Barron from Ohio, moved with his family to Sonoma County, California, where he eventually became friends with the horticultural genius Luther Burbank. Armstrong bought densely wooded property around Guerneville and started to clear-cut much of the area. He did however appreciate the beauty and uniqueness of the redwood trees and therefore wanted to preserve some of the original redwood forests. He deeded about 600 acres to his daughter. The public was allowed to visit these preserved forests and in the 1930s, the State of California purchased this area and turned it into a State Forest. In the mid 60s, the State of California started to acquire land around Armstrong Woods which it combined into a nature reserve. Today, Austin Creek State Recreational Area and Armstrong Woods spread out over a combined area of around 1,700 acres of protected woodlands and wildlife habitat, accessible to the public for hiking, bicycling, horseback riding, picnicking, camping and just plain enjoyment.
If you ever find yourself traveling in California, be sure to visit one of these magnificent wonders of the natural world!
We’ve lived in many parts of Northern California over the years, in and near the redwoods, and loved hiking and exploring these forests in our free time.
One last look at these magnificent trees!
in cahoots with muddy boots 
Beautiful captures of a beautiful forest!
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Thank you, Cindy! 🙂
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These pictures are so familiar and yet I love them all the more. The last one with at the sorrel eye view is my favorite!
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I like the eye level view from the forest floor too! Armstrong Woods is a special place!
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A magical place for sure, Sabine! 🙂
I saw a tree growing in a tree at a local nature park here in Illinois. Nature finds a way!
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That tree you saw sounds interesting!
And yes, the redwoods are beautiful!
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I do love visiting the Redwoods 🙂 Wonderful pictures of this beautiful forest.
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Thank you M.B.! 🙂
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What a wonderful slice of nature. These trees are so interesting. Resistant to fire and special adaptations fo buttresses and burl that aid their survival. They are so majestic. I really enjoyed the video and also the photo through the clover. Even the clover leaves looks enormous.
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It is a great slice of nature! I always feel so small and insignificant when I walk through redwood forests. The clover leaves are enormous. I’m going to see if I can get some if it’s hardy enough for the Portland area. It would be nice since we have a forest behind us. 😊
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Ooh. Lovely. I agree nature is levelling. Time is the master of the universe in a way. We humans are just a side act!
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I have never thought of humans as a side act! Its been determined that spending time in nature is very restorative for us humans, and yet we go around and destroy that what makes us feel good. 😳
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Well in terms of the infinite size of the universe, I think we are a side act tucked away in the corner of the Milky Way!
I do agree that we are killing the very systems that supports human life itself. So short sighted. Shooting ourselves in the foot really.
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I’ve only been there once but it was breathtaking. Great shots of it and a nice reminder of our need to preserve these forests.
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I’m glad that you had a chance to visit the redwoods, Marlene! We do need to protect the environment better.
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They are spectacular trees! We’ve been through the redwoods a few times. Always stunning! Have a great week, Sabine!
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Have a great weekend too, Missy!
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The tall trees make us humans feel pretty small and insignificant next to these beautiful wonders of nature, that’s for sure Sabine. To gaze up and see their height and regal beauty takes your breath away. But, closer to the ground, I also like seeing the woodland ferns and the ground cover that carpet this wooded area. You have captured nature exquisitely.
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Thank you, Linda! Seeing these trees does make us all feel small! When we lived there I went out there regularly, but really not often enough!
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There is lots to absorb in your mind when you gaze up in a wooded area like that – it makes you in awe of nature Sabine, as you well know,
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Very true!
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