California Day 5: Grove of the Giants

If you ever have a chance to see the giant sequoias then you must head to the Grove of the Giants in Sequoia National Park. It's hard to imagine that at one time this meadow was a bubbling little village with houses pocking the landscape around the giant trees. Now the path circles the meadow but the houses and residences of days of old have been removed leaving a large grove of natural beauty.

Geraldine and I took a spin around the loop trail and enjoyed the morning solitude. Only a handful of people walked by giving us the illusion that we were alone with the trees.

This grove is home to some of the largest trees in the whole world. And though I stopped at every angle to snap photos, I still walked away feeling like I didn't capture the grandeur of this stand of trees. Each tree had a different personality, a different shape, a different character. And each of them were special to me in some way, even the ones that had fallen and served as reminders that the circle of life continues.

Any time I meet a new species of plant or tree I am often found touching the surface and feeling the texture. Sequoias have magnificent bark and the sound of the wood seems so hollow that it's hard to imagine that something so fragile to the touch could be standing so large. Often the bark is littered with lichens of every color and shape. I loved the contrast of grees, grays, and oranges.

We were very lucky to have perfect weather. A bright blue sky peaked behind the standing giants as we made our way around the loop.

The sun draped around the canopy and streaked down to the meadow floor. The green meadow was alive with many wildflowers and small shrubs.

This is a very short trail to walk and I recommend it to everyone that happens near the park. Take a stroll, take your time, and soak in the beauty. The Giant Sequoias are something that must be cherished and protected for generations to come.

Tomorrow I'll share with you some photos of Moro Rock and the largest tree on Earth!