Index to this volume
Jepson Field Book Transcriptions · Jepson Herbarium
Index to all books
|
3_182 Round Meadow, June 24, 1900. The Sequoias here of every age and size from little seedlings 4 ft. high to Old Nero's wasted by the storms of the centuries and untold fires. It is not easy to describe the feelings generated by the Sequoia columns, these great columns that hold their girth so remarkably to the very top. It is told of Kellogg, the gentle man and Christian who happened also to be California's pioneer botanist, that on seeing the Big Trees of the Calaveras for the first time he approached them reverently with tears streaming down his face. When we came into the Giant Forest my companion a typical college youth gazed at them steadily for a long while as we passed several; then he said abruptly "Gee whiz, what a time a fellow would |
3_183 Sequoia National Park. have trying to shin up one of those! Such are the different feelings generated. But as I look at these great fluted columns with the superb evolving of the bank, and the fire [crowns] of those that are in their prime I cannot but exclaim: How beautiful must have been the Mesozoic forests where these trees fraternized with other Sequoia species, with prehistoric taxoids and the Ginkos with their fern-like leaves! About the meadow at me is a fringe of Aspen trees -25_30 ft high. Although the forest is wonderfully quiet these trees are often in a perfect gale, their petioles being [impressed/empressed] vertically the slightest motion disturbs them greatly. I do not like the name "Quaking Asp"; it suggests fear. But these dancing leaves are all intensely joyous, wonderfully glad; leaping and crying: Lets all go a-Maying. Light of sunshine. |
ms. | Copyright © 2007 Regents of the University of California | Credits: |
ms.