Redwoods are magnificent trees whose beauty we get to experience in Sonoma County and Healdsburg. These beauties are set in the picnic grove at Riverfront Regional Park. The park includes three miles of trails for walking through redwoods plus boating, hiking, horseback riding and picnicking.
The redwood most seen in our area and in this grove is the coastal redwood, scientifically classified as Sequoia sempervirens. It is one of three species, in the genus Sequoia. The other two are giant sequoias, (Sequoiadendron giganteum) found in the Sierra Nevada, and dawn redwoods (Metasequoia glyptostroboides). Dawn redwoods are of Chinese origin, introduced as an exotic, and can be seen in some Healdsburg backyards.
The coastal redwood is classified as the tallest tree in the world. Even though they are tall they have shallow, lateral root systems. Often found in clumps or stands, their lateral roots intertwine for stability. The preponderance of weight is at the tree’s base, in heart wood and burlwood. This along with its interlocking root system makes the tallest of trees quite stable…