Stop 8: Sequoia Love

Muir stands next to a sequoia tree, along with a modern photo of the park sequoia.

Historic image from the JOMU collection. Modern by Luther Bailey.

Transcript for the John Muir NHS Cell Phone Tour

Stop Number 8

John Muir’s love of botany is expressed in the many varieties of trees planted around the home and orchards. Most are not fruit bearers but were chosen by Louie, John or Dr. Strentzel for their beauty and uniqueness. John Muir would often send seeds and plant cuttings through the mail to his family here. 

One of John Muir’s favorite transplants was this tree he brought from the Sierra Nevada when it was just a seedling. Now, at over 70 feet and 120 years young, this is still a baby and could someday grow to more than 250 feet high, 100 feet around and 3,000 years old. This will only happen with proper care and enough water – a tough thing to provide to a tree miles away from its natural habitat. This tree is the mighty Sequoia. As large as this tree could grow, its height would be completely eclipsed by another one of Muir’s favorite trees. The genetic brother of the sequoia is the California state tree and the tallest tree on the planet, the coastal redwood. 

After seeing the Merced grove of sequoias in what would eventually become Yosemite National Park, Muir writes a good friend about his divine experience among the giants:

“Do behold the King in his glory, King Sequoia! Behold! Behold! Seems all I can say…I’m in the woods, woods, woods, and they are in me-ee-ee. The King tree and I have sworn eternal love…and I’ve taken sacrament with Douglas squirrel, drunk Sequoia wine, Sequoia blood, and with its rosy purple drops I am writing this woody gospel letter.”