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Redwoods Day
“Through mist and memory, the redwoods endure.”
Redwoods grow almost entirely along the Pacific coast of the United States, where ocean fog keeps them cool and damp. The coastal redwood (Sequoia sempervirens), the tallest of all tree species, thrives in a narrow strip that stretches from southern Oregon down through Northern and Central California. They rarely grow more than 50 miles inland, since the fog is essential to their survival!
Their signature reddish hue comes from tannins in the wood and bark—compounds that not only color the tree a deep rust-red but also act as natural armor. Tannins make redwood unusually resistant to insects, fungus, and decay, which is why a fallen log can remain on the forest floor for centuries without rotting away. The bark itself can be a foot thick, fibrous and cinnamon-red when freshly exposed.
Their close relative, the giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum), grows farther inland in California’s Sierra Nevada. Though not as tall, these trees are far more massive, ranking as the largest living organisms on Earth by sheer volume.
For the Indigenous peoples of Northern California—the Yurok, Karuk, Tolowa, and Chilula among them—redwoods have always been more than trees. They were understood as living beings, keepers of memory and spirit. Redwood wood became canoes, homes, and ceremonial structures, but harvesting was often done with great care, traditionally from fallen giants rather than by felling a living one.
Redwood groves also held spiritual importance. They were places for ceremony, for storytelling, for connecting with ancestors. Some tribes saw the immense height of the redwoods as a bridge between the human world and the spiritual one.
For many, redwoods remain symbols of endurance, strength, and our intimate bond with nature. ♥️ 🤎 🖤 🤍 🌲 🌲 🌲
Redwood groves in the Pacific Northwest are among the most awe-inspiring natural sanctuaries in North America. These towering forests, dominated by coastal redwoods (Sequoia sempervirens), stretch from southern Oregon down through northern and central California, hugging the Pacific shoreline. Here, the cool, moist climate—tempered by frequent fog rolling in from the ocean—creates the perfect conditions for these giants to thrive. Unlike many forests, redwood groves often feel like vast, natural cathedrals, with shafts of light filtering through the canopy and deep carpets of ferns softening the forest floor.
Walking through one of these groves is an experience of scale and silence. Redwoods can rise well over 300 feet tall, their trunks wide enough to walk through when hollowed by age or fire. The sheer verticality of the trees creates a sense of timelessness; some of these living monuments are more than 1,500 years old, having quietly endured storms, fires, and human history unfolding around them. Their bark, spongy and rich in tannins, protects them from decay and pests, while their immense height allows them to draw in fog as an additional source of water, sustaining themselves even through dry summers.
Beyond their physical grandeur, redwood groves hold an ecological significance that stretches far beyond their boundaries. The dense canopy provides habitat for countless species—owls, marbled murrelets, and amphibians that thrive in the damp understory. Their fallen logs, resistant to rot, become miniature ecosystems, slowly recycling nutrients back into the soil over centuries. Standing among them, one senses a living continuum: these groves are not simply trees, but interconnected communities supporting a web of life.
For many people, redwood groves also carry a spiritual resonance. Their quiet stillness invites reflection, while their sheer age and endurance evoke humility. To enter such a grove is to step into a realm where time feels elongated, where the human scale seems fleeting against the backdrop of millennia. Whether seen as natural wonders, ecological keystones, or symbols of endurance, the redwood groves of the Pacific Northwest remain among the most extraordinary landscapes on earth.
Aljean of Vancouver stands out as a mid-century Canadian clothing manufacturer whose legacy still lingers in both fashion history and tartan design. Founded around 1947 by Mr. and Mrs. Al Guskin, the company quickly earned a reputation for quality craftsmanship and innovation. One of their hallmarks was the pioneering use of hand-blocking fabrics, a demanding process that set them apart from many competitors in the postwar garment industry. By the early 1950s, Aljean was employing close to fifty people in its Vancouver factory, producing a wide range of apparel for women, girls, and children.
Throughout the mid-20th century, the company anchored itself in Vancouver’s growing garment district, moving from its early location on Water Street to a long tenure at 460 West Hastings, and later operating at 289 East 2nd Avenue. Under the label Aljean of Canada, the firm expanded its reach, even filing trademarks like Colour Classics during the 1960s. Their garments — tartan skirts, tailored suits, and wool ensembles — captured both the practicality and style that defined mid-century Canadian wardrobes.
The Scottish Register of Tartans preserves several designs credited to Aljean of Vancouver, including Black Watch (Aljean), Dogwood, Blue Meadow, Golden Heather and Redwoods. While the brand itself has long since disappeared, vintage Aljean garments continue to circulate today as collector's items.
For more on state parks that can be visited, click the redwood grove!