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♪♪ Jim: THIS IS REDWOOD NATIONAL PARK, CREATED BY CONGRESS 1968 TO PROTECT A 50-MILE NARROW CORRIDOR THAT STRETCHES ALONG CALIFORNIA'S NORTH COAST JUST SOUTH OF THE OREGON BORDER.

THE 106,000-ACRE PARK IS SPECIAL AND ENCHANTING PLACE THAT OFTEN DEFIES ADEQUATE DESCRIPTIONS.

THE RUGGED COASTLINE PROVIDES A SWEEPING PANORAMA OF SANDY BEACHES, JAGGED CLIFFS, SEA STACKS AND POUNDING SURF.

BUT THE MONARCHS OF THE PARK ARE THE COAST REDWOODS-- THE TALLEST TREES IN THE WORLD.

HUNDREDS OF FEET HIGH AND OFTEN MANY CENTURIES OLD.

HELLO AND WELCOME TO NATURE SCENE.

I'M JIM WELCH WITH NATURALIST RUDY MANCKE AND WE'RE ON A ROCK HIGH ABOVE THE PACIFIC IN THE LAND OF THE GIANTS.

RUDY, I'M SURE THE GEOLOGY IS JUST AS EXCITING AS THE FOREST ITSELF.

ABSOLUTELY, AND I INK TODAY IS GOING TO BE FUN TALKING OUT THE WAY THIS COASTAL RANGE FORMED IN THIS PART OF CALIFORNIA THE WAY THE MOUNTAINS WERE SHOVED UP, AND THEN ALSO TALKING ABOUT HOW MISTS FROM THIS PACIFIC OCEAN AND THICK, RICH SOILS REALLY CHANGES THE PLANT COMMUNITIES HERE.

AND HERE ARE SOME SPECIAL THINGS HERE THAT ARE FOUND REALLY ALMOST NOWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT WHY THEY'RE HERE AS WE GO ALONG.

BUT AS ALWAYS, THE GEOLOGICAL STORY IS IN A SENSE, THE FOUNDATION FOR EVERYTHING ELSE BECAUSE AS THE ROCKS BREAK DOWN THEY FORM THE SOIL AND THEN THE PLANTS COME ALONG AND... WHAT IS THE BASE ROCK FOR THE MOST PART?

WELL, IT'S SUCH A BEAUTIFUL VIEW OFF OF HERE AT THAT BASE ROCK STICKING UP ALL OVER THE PLACE AND MOST OF THAT IS BASICALLY OLD OCEAN FLOOR THAT HAS BEEN SHOVED UP AND PUSHED IN TO THE CONTINENT OF NORTH AMERICA.

CONTINENTAL PLATES ARE SHIFTING-- WE KNOW THAT NOW-- AND THE PACIFIC PLATE IS OFF IN THE DISTANCE THERE.

WE'RE STANDING ON THE NORTH AMERICAN PLATE.

SOME OF THAT DEBRIS WAS PUSHED UP A LONG TIME AGO OH, IT STARTED 100 MILLION YEARS AGO.

PUSHED UP ABOUT 70 MILLION THIS LEVEL.

AND THEN LOOK AT THE PLANTS THAT HAVE COME ON THIS OLD OCEAN FLOOR AND ARE NOW DOING ALLY PRETTY WELL.

FIRST ONE I SEE, IN FACT, IS PEARLY EVER LASTING.

WE'VE SEEN IT BEFORE.

ONE OF THE COMPOSITES AND THE FLOWERS AND FRUIT LAST SO LONG THAT THEY SEEM TO BE EVERLASTING.

THEY'RE USED IN DRIED ARRANGEMENTS A LOT.

NICE AND WHITE.

AND THEN LOOK AT THE CRACKS NOW, IN THIS ROCK THIS OLD OCEAN FLOOR STUFF-- CRACKS FILLED WITH A LITTLE PLANT, LEATHERY LEAVES.

SALAL IS THE NAME FOR IT.

IT'S AN OLD INDIAN NAME AT MEANS "SHRUB."

BUT IT'S NOT SHRUBBY HERE.

USUALLY IT GETS UP VERY TALL BUT IT'S LITTLE TOUGHER TO GROW HERE WITH SO LITTLE SOIL.

SEE THAT FRUIT ON IT?

LITTLE BIT OF FRUIT DOWN THERE DARK FRUIT THAT IS EDIBLE.

WE DON'T EAT IT MUCH BUT THE INDIANS TOOK ADVANTAGE OF IT.

THE SMALL PINKISH PLANT GROWING RIGHT CLOSE TO THE ROCK.

AND YOU SEE THE WAY IT'S CLUSTERED DOWN, REALLY, RIGHT ON THE ROCK AS IF IT'S GROWING OUT OF THE ROCK.

AND STONECROP IS ONE COMMON NAME FOR THAT.

PACIFIC SEDUM IS ANOTHER NAME.

I SEE SOME FRUIT STICKING UP ON IT.

THIS LITTLE BROOM-LOOKING SHRUB HERE IS CALLED COMMON NAME-- CHAPARRAL BROOM AND IT'S FOUND IN SITUATIONS LIKE THIS KIND OF SCANTY SOILS.

DOING FAIRLY NICELY HERE.

I SEE ONE OTHER STRANGE ANIMAL, NOW WHEN YOU'VE GOT LOTS OF PLANT MATERIAL.

ORGANIC MATERIAL ATTRACTS SNAILS LOOK AT THAT ONE WITH THE STRIPES ON THE SHELL.

VERY PRETTY SHELL.

THAT'S ONE VERITY THAT DOES FAIRLY WELL HERE.

NO GOOD COMMON NAME.

BUT VARIATION OF COLORS HELP SOME VARIETIES U KNOW, BLEND IN A LITTLE ME THAN OTHERS.

BIRDS FEED ON IT, CHIPMUNKS AND OTHER THINGS.

I SEE ONE OTHER PLANT OVER HERE JUST ACROSS THE WAY.

THIMBLEBERRY IS THE NAME FOR IT.

FLOWERS, THAT WHITE FLOWER AND THEN REDDISH FRUIT AND IT IS AN EDIBLE PLANT KIND OF MAPLE-LIKE LEAVES.

AND BEFORE WE LEAVE THE ROAR OF THIS OCEAN...

I LOVE THIS BECAUSE WE'RE HIGH ENOUGH TO LOOK DOWN ON ONE OF THE LARGE TREES HERE A SITKA SPRUCE.

LOOK AT THOSE YELLOW CONES, FRESH CONES HANGING DOWN...

THEY'RE POINTED DOWN.

AS IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE PUTS UP WITH THE SALT AIR AND THE SPRAY.

ABSOLUTELY.

LITTLE COASTAL BELT WHERE THAT THING DOES WELL AND, OF COURSE, FROM ALASKA TO HERE.

AND THEN THE SEA STACK OUT IN THE DISTANCE.

LITTLE BIT OF THAT ROCK THAT WAS SHOVED UP.

IT'S KIND OF LEFT STANDING ALONE.

WE'RE GOING TO SEE A LOT OF DIVERSITY HERE.

THIS IS GOING TO BE A SPECIAL DAY NOT ONLY ON THE EDGE OF THE PACIFIC BUT ON INTO THE WOODS.

MOVE ON.

LET'S GET THERE NEXT.

VERY PLEASANT AND COOL WALK ON A LATE SUMMER DAY HERE AT A LOWER PART OF THE PARK.

THAT'S RIGHT.

A LITTLE FURTHER AWAY FROM THE OCEAN AND PLANT SPECIES HAVE CHANGED A GOOD BIT HERE.

HERE'S ONE OF THOSE DECIDUOUS TREES THAT'S COMING IN.

LOOK AT THE LEAVES, JIM... COMING UP OPPOSITE EACH OTHER.

LARGE.

VERY BIG.

ONE OF THE MAPLES FOR SURE.

KIND OF A RED STEM ON THE LEAF, TOO.

BUT THE BIGGEST- LEAFED MAPLE HERE SO BIG-LEAF MAPLE THE COMMON NAME FOR IT.

WILL BECOME A BIG TREE, TOO.

YEAH, JUST GETTING STARTED HEADING TOWARD THAT SUNLIGHT UP THERE.

AND LOOK AT THE ACTIVITY THAT'S HAPPENED OVER HERE.

OH, YE, YEAH.

BEAVERS, OF COURSE.

WELL, CHANGING THE WORLD SUIT THEM.

I GUESS SECOND ONLY MAN IN THAT ABILITY.

FEEDING ON THE INNER BARK OF THE TREE.

YOU CAN'T CLIMB THE TREE, SO YOU CUT IT DOWN AND THEN SLOWLY BUT SURELY FEED ON IT.

AND BUILDING A LODGE.

LET'S GET CLOSER TO IT.

YEAH.

YEAH, THAT LODGE IS MATERIAL THAT'S BEEN PILED UP HERE OVER A LONG PERIOD OF TIME.

PROBABLY THE HOME IS UNDERNEATH THE BANK HERE.

LOOK AT THE HUGE LOG HERE.

NOW, THIS HAS TO BE REDWOOD.

OH, YEAH, NO DOUBT ABOUT .

AND BEEN HERE GOOD LONG TIME BECAUSE YOU SEE THAT MOSSES HAVE COVERED IT.

AND ONE OF THE FERNS IS UP THERE.

I THINK THAT'S LEATHER FERN ALL OVER THE PLACE.

THIS WOOD IS VERY RESISTANT TO DECAY AND INSECT ACTIVITY AND FUNGUS, FUNGAL ACTIVITY.

SO THIS TREE LASTS A LONG TIME AND THAT'S WHY PEOPLE LIKE IT SO MUCH.

FIRE HAS BEE THROUGH IT, TOO.

YEAH, YEAH.

CUT AND LEFT AND THEN NATURE IS RECLAIMING IT BACK TO FOREST.

BUT IT'S SLOW PROCESS WITH REDWOOD NOW, THE TREES THAT THE BEAVER WERE CUTTING-- AND HERE'S ONE STILL STANDING A NUMBER OF THEM AROUND US-- ALDERS.

ALDERS.

VERY GRAY BARK.

YEAH.

ALMOST LIKE A BIRCH-LOOKING BARK.

BUT THIS IS RED ALDER THAT IS EXTREMELY COMMON HERE.

REALLY, USUALLY YOU CONSIDER IT A PIONEER TREE IN THIS PART OF THE UNITED STATES COMING OUT INTO OPEN AREAS AFTER FIRES OR AFTER THEY'VE BEEN CUT AND DOING VERY WELL.

HAS A LITTLE EDGE ON THE OTHER PLANTS BECAUSE ITS ROOTS ACTUALLY CAN FIX NITROGEN.

NITROGEN'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR PLANT GROWTH IT'S GOT AN EDGE-- MOST PLANTS DON'T DO THAT-- AND IT CAN COME INTO AREAS QUICKLY.

IDENTIFY IT BY THE BARK, IN THE MAIN?

BARK, YEAH, AND THE LEAVES, OF COURSE, WAY UP THERE BUT THEY'RE A LITTLE HARD TO SEE RIGHT NOW.

SEE ANOTHER PLANT DOWN HERE.

WE SAID THE MAPLES HAVE OPPOSITE LEAVES.

HERE'S ANOTHER ONE WI OPPOSITE LEAVES MORE OF A LOW-GROWING SHRUBBY PLANT.

SEE THE FRUIT ON IT?

VERY OBVIOUS FRUIT.

WHAT KIND IS THAT?

BUSH HONEYSUCKLE IS THE OF THE COMMON NAMES FOR THAT.

IF YOU COULD SEE THE FLOWERS IT WOULD HAVE RE OF A HONEYSUCKLE LOOK TO YOU.

THEY' ER YELLOW.

AND THEN FRUIT ON, THIS TIME OF YEAR.

NOT GETTING USUALLY MUCH HIGHER THAN THAT.

AND I SEE ONE MORE PLANT JUST TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT WITH ALMOST SHINY LEAVES ON IT AND ALSO FRUIT IN PLACE.

SEE THE DARK FRUIT ON IT?

ONE OF THE NAMES FOR THAT IS BUCKTHORN.

RHAMNUS IS THE GENUS NAME BUT IS ONE DOESN'T HAVE THORNS IT.

CASCARA IS ONE OF THE NAMES FOR THIS THING.

AND IT HAS BEEN HEAVILY CUT HERE NOT BECAUSE IT'S GOT GOOD WOOD-- NEVER GE THAT BIG-- BUT THE BARK IS USED TO PRODUCE A VERY POTENT LAXATIVE.

AND SO MANY OF OUR PLANT SPECIES HAVE MEDICINAL USES AND THAT IS ONE OF THEM.

HEAVILY USED EVEN TODAY.

GREAT VARIETY HERE.

LOT TO SEE.

AND, OF COURSE, WITH THE BEAVERS HERE WE KNOW THERE'S WATER.

SO WHY DON'T WE HEAD ON OUT AND SEE IF WE CAN GET A LITTLE CLOSER TO THAT OPEN WATER AND THE WORLD WILL CHANGE AGAIN FOR US.

IT'S ALWAYS NICE TO HAVE OPEN AREAS LIKE THIS, JIM ESPECIALLY BY WATER BECAUSE IT GIVES LOTS OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS OPPORTUNITIES, YOU KNOW, TO SURVIVE HERE THAT WOULDN'T BE HERE OTHERWISE.

THE EDGES, OF COURSE.

I SAW THE MOVEMENT AS WE WERE WALKING OVER.

IT'S NOW PERCHED SEE THE LITTLE DRAGONFLY?

THE RED.

PERCHED ON THAT LITTLE BRANCH.

RED ABDOMEN, RED FACE.

LOOKS LIKE HE'S CHEWING THOSE MOUTHPARTS A LITTLE.

EVEN A LITTLE REDDISH ON THE BASE OF THE WINGS.

COMMON NAME?

WELL THE TOPER DRAGONFLY.

YOU KNOW WHAT A TOPER IS?

NO.

IT A DRUNKARD.

A TOPER IS THE WORD FOR DR... AND IS THING FLIES...

FLIES FUNNY?

IN A RATHER RANGE MANNER.

OF COURSE, NOW, HE PERCHES REALLY NICELY.

GETTING INSECTS HERE IN THE OPEN FIELD.

HEADING BACK TOWARD WATER, PROBABLY TO FIND A MATE.

LITTLE BREEZE TODAY.

BRILLIANT RED.

CLUSTER OF FLOWERS DOWN HERE, NOW.

WHEN YOU GO TO OPEN AREAS THAT GIVES LOTS OF PLANTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SURVIVE THAT WOULD NORMALLY BE SHADED OUT.

IN THE WATER, I'D SAY THAT'S PICKERELWEED.

IT'S NOT PICKERELWEED THERE, THOUGH CLUSTERS OF FLOWERS SORT OF WHORLED AROUND THE STEM.

THAT'S A NONNATIVE-- PENNYROYALS THE COMMON NAME FOR IT.

IT'S ONE OF THE MINTS AND AS YOU WALK THROUGH YOU WOULD GET THAT MINTY SMELL.

NONNATIVE, IT'S ESCAPED AND DOING FAIRLY WELL HERE.

RIGHT HERE, RIGHT HERE.

OH, A LIZARD!

LITTLE TINY BIT OF MOVEMENT.

IT'S A BROWN LIZARD?

ONE OF THE ALLIGATOR LIZARDS.

YEAH, THAT'S AN INTERESTING ONE THERE.

CURLED BODY AROUND.

SCALY ANIMAL, OBVIOUSLY ONE OF THE REPTILES.

PROBABLY THE NORTHERN ALLIGATOR LIZARD.

I EVEN SEE SOME LITTLE ORANGEISH AREAS THAT ARE PROBABLY PARASITES, LITTLE MITES HANGING ON.

FEED ON INVERTEBRATES AND LOVE THESE OPEN AREAS LIKE THIS.

THAT'S AN INTERESTING ANIMAL.

CUTE.

WARM DAY LIKE THIS NOW PERFECT TIME FOR THE REPTILES TO BE OUT SUNNING AND THAT'S WHAT HE WAS DOING.

LET'S HEAD DOWN TOWARD THE WATER HOLD ON A MINUTE LOOK RIGHT HERE.

LOOKING THE GROUND RIGHT THERE HEADING AWAY FROM US.

REPTILE SUNNING.

YEAH, ONE OF THE SNAKES.

LET ME SEE IF I CAN GET HIM!

LET ME MAKE SURE I GOT A GOOD GRIP ON HIM.

ONE OF THE NONPOISONOUS SNAKES THAT... REALLY THIS IS THE PERFECT PLACE FOR HIM, BY WATER.

ONE OF THE GARTER SNAKES.

SO MY GARTER SNAKES.

CAN YOU TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THEM?

YEAH, THIS ONE IS PRETTY EASY TO IDENTIFY BECAUSE OF THOSE MARKINGS ON THE SIDE.

SEE THAT RED AND BLACK ALONG THE SIDE?

THIS ONE IS CALLED THE CALIFORNIA RED-SIDED GARTER SNAKE.

PRETTY GOOD COMM NAME FOR IT.

LIGHT STRIPE ALONG THAT SIDE, TOO AND THEN THERE'S ALSO A VERY DISTINCTIVE STRIPE.

SEE HOW WIDE IT IS?

GOING DOWN THE CENTER OF THE BACK WHICH LETS US KNOW IT'S, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE VARIETIES OF THE EASTERN GARTER SAKE THAT COMES THIS FAR WEST.

NOTICE KEELS ON THE SCALES TOO, JIM.

EACH SCALE HAS A RIDGE RUNNING RIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE OF IT AND THAT'S TYPICAL OF THE GARTER SNAKES.

THESE ARE NONPOISONOUS SNAKES THAT REALLY LIKE WET AREAS.

THEY FEED ON FROGS, TOADS, FISH AND SUCH.

AND VERY DRY.

YEAH, WELL, THEY'RE ONE OF THE REPTILES.

COMING OUT SOMETIMES TO SUN.

AND AGAIN, TYPICALLY A NONPOISONOUS SNAKE BECAUSE YOU CAN TELL THAT PRETTY QUICKLY BECAUSE OF THE HEAD.

I MEAN, IT'S GOT A HEAD WHERE THE EYES BUG OUT VERY CLEARLY.

PUPIL IS NICE AND ROUND.

THESE SNAKES DO HAVE, YOU KNOW, SIX ROWS OF TEETH BUT NO FANGS AND VENOM.

AND THEY GRAB THEIR PREY AND EAT IT ALIVE AND ALSO GIVE BIRTH LIVE YOUNG AND USUALLY ABOUT THIS TIME OF THE YEAR.

OFTEN AROUND, BUT QUITE OFTEN SECRETIVE.

YEAH, THIS IS AN INTERESTING SNAKE.

TYPICAL OF THIS AREA.

AND NOT GOING TO HURT YOU.

NO.

PUT IT DOWN RIGHT HERE.

LET IT GO WHERE WANTS TO GO AND WE'LL JUST MOVE DOWN TOWARD THE WATER.

Jim: ALL THE BLACKBERRIES.

ONE OF THE BLACKBERRIES HERE, YEAH THIS IS NOT A NATIVE SPECIES.

THIS IS LIKE THE PLANT WE SAW A MOMENT AGO.

HIMALAYAN BLACKBERRY IS THE COMMON NAME.

IT'S ESCAPED AND CAUSED US SOME PROBLEMS.

DARK FRUIT EVENTUALLY; STARTS OFF RED.

PINK FLOWER THERE.

YEAH, THAT'S CALLED FIREWEED AND THAT'S A PLANT THAT COMES IN AFTER FIRES OR CLEAR-CUTTING IN AN AREA.

AND GETS UP AND FLOWS AND FRUITS VERY RAPIDLY.

WIND-BLOWN SEEDS SO IT GETS TRANSFER ALL OVER THE PLACE.

THAT DRAGONFLY OVER HERE.

DRAGONFLY RIGHT ON THE EDGE.

WE'RE RIGHT WHERE IT SPENDS A LOT OF ITS TIME.

THE TEN-SPOT DRAGONFLY THE COMMON NAME FOR THAT ONE.

AND COLORFUL WINGS LETS US KNOW IT'S A MALE.

AND, OF COURSE, THEY LAY EGGS IN THE WATER OUT THERE SPEND A LOT OF THEIR LIFE THERE THEN COME OUT, SHED THEIR SKIN AND GROW WINGS.

LOOK AT THE FLOWER STANDING UP OUT OF THE WATER.

INDIAN POND LILY, OR YELLOW POND LILY.

AND LEAVES ALSO COMING OUT.

AND THEN THE LITTLE TEENY YELLOW ONES IN THE DISTANCE-- ONE OF THE CARNIVOROUS PLANTS KNOWN AS BLADDERWORT.

SEEMS TO BE VERY COMMON HERE.

CATCHES INVERTEBRATES IN LITTLE BLADDER-LIKE THINGS ON THE BOTTOM UNDER THE WATER RUDY, THE BEAUTIFUL FOREST BEYOND.

OH, YEAH.

WELL, THAT'S WHAT WE'VE COME TO SEE THAT NICE CONIFEROUS FOREST SO THAT'S REALLY WHERE WE WANT GO NEXT INTO THE LAND, KIND OF, OF THE BIG TREES.

THERE'S A LOT TO SEE OVER THERE HOLD ON JUST A MINUTE.

LOOK WHAT'S CO OUT IN THE OPEN FIELD SINCE WE GOT HERE.

ELK-- ROOSEVELT ELK.

THERE'S THE MALE WITH THE TREMENDOUS... LOOK AT THOSE ANTLERS!

MUNCHING A LITTLE BIT OF GRASS THERE, LIFTING UP.

DARKER ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE BODY YOU CAN SEE THERE AND ON THE THROAT.

AND THERE'S THE FEMALE OVER THERE ON THE SIDE...

SO THIS IS RUTTING SEASON?

YEAH, RUING SEASON IS JUST BEGINNING THE MALE-- LOOK AT HIM-- GOING OVER AND SORT OF EXAMINE THE FEMALE.

SHE DOESN'T EM INTERESTED IN MATING.

JUST WALKING OFF IN THE DISTANCE.

AMAZING ANIMALS DOING VERY WELL RIGHT HERE.

WE'RE NOW WALKING A FOREST THAT CONTAINS THE TALLEST TREE SPECIES IN THE WORLD.

AND IT'S AN INTERESTING FEELING.

SILENCE IN HERE IS SO NICE.

IT'S LIKE BEING.

OR ENTERING A MASSIVE CATHEDRAL.

YEAH, RIGHT.

THE SAME FEELING.

THAT'S TRUE.

WHEN YOU LOOK UP, YOU REALLY GET THAT CATHEDRAL EFFECT BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT A CANOPY TREE HERE THE REDWOOD, THAT GOES WAY, WAY ABOVE EVERY THING ELSE.

200 TO 300 FEET UP, I'M SURE.

OH, YEAH.

NICE BLUE SKY ABOVE IT.

FAST-GROWING TREE, TOO.

YOU CAN KIND OF GET THAT FEELING, YOU KNOW THEY'RE GROWING STRAIGHT UP VERY, VERY RAPIDLY.

NAMED AFTER, YOU KNOW- SCIENTIFIC ME IS SE QUOIA SEMPERVINS-- NAMED AFTER THE CHEROKEE INDIAN CHIEF.

WHO DID THE ALPHABET FOR THE CHEROKEE INDIANS.

YEAH, YEAH, AND THAT'S AN AMAZING PLANT.

TO GROW IN SITUATIONS LIKE THIS FOR THIS PLANT, YOU GOT TO HAVE THICK, RICH SOILS.

YOU GOT TO HAVE A MODERATE CLIMATE-- TEMPERATURE VARIATIONS MINIMAL-- AND THEN YOU HAVE TO HAVE ONE OTHER THING THAT REALLY IS IMPORTANT AND THAT IS ENOUGH WATER TO GET THROUGH THE DRY SUMMERS.

THAT'S WHERE THE FOG BECOMES INTO PLAY.

FOG COMES IN OFF THE PACIFIC AND GIVES THIS THING AN OPPOR...

SPECIES AN OPPORTUNITY TO SURVIVE.

THE ROOTS ARE RATHER STRANGE.

THERE'S NOT A LOT OF ROOT HAIRS THEM SO THEY DON'T PICK UP MOISTURE AS MOST OTHER PLANTS.

THEY NEED MORE MOIST SOIL.

NOW, LOOKING AT THAT AND LOOKING UP AT THIS-- WHERE DID ALL THE STUFF COME FROM THAT IS NOW TREE WHERE DID AT SOLID MATERIAL COME FROM THAT'S NOW THE TRUNK OF THAT TREE?

EVERY THING AROUND US ENTERS INTO IT: THE SUNLIGHT, OF COURSE, THE SOIL AND THE NUTRIENTS.

ENERGY FROM THE SUN IT GETS A LITTLE BIT FROM THE SOIL BUT WATER AND THIN AIR-- CARBON DIOXIDE OUT OF THE AIR-- COME TOGETHER TO FORM THE STUFF OF THESE TREES.

AND THEY ARE AMAZING PLANTS.

AND AS WE SAID EARLIER, YOU KNOW THEY'VE BEEN FOUND AS FOSSILS 160 MILLION YEARS AGO.

THEY WERE LIVING WHEN THE DINOSAURS WE STILL ACTIVELY ROAMING THE EARTH.

AND HERE'S A... SPECIAL PLANT.

PIECE OF A TREE THAT CAME DOWN.

MEAN, A TRUNK OF A TREE-- REDWOOD.

YEAH, AND THAT'S NOT AN EXTREME LARGE ONE.

BUT,GAIN, YOU SEE THAT IT'S VERY RESISTANT TO... TO INSECT ACTIVITY AND DECAY AND THOSE SORT OF THINGS.

AND FIRE, TOO, I'M SURE, GOES RIGHT THROUGH HERE.

SOLID THOUGH, THAT SOLID PART IS ACTUALLY CARBON DIOXIDE OUT OF THE AIR.

NATURE CONSTANTLY RECYCLING AND CHANGING THING ALL RIGHT LET'S JUST LOOK AT SOME THINGS.

IT'S EASY JUST TO LOOK UP.

THERE E A LOT OF THINGS DOWN LOW TO THE GROUND.

FERNS EVERYWHERE OH, YEAH.

FERNS, REALLY, ALL OVER THE PLACE.

THE BIGGEST ONES-- THE BIG CLUMPS USUALLY CALLED-- COMMON NAME, SWORD FERN.

FERNS A RATHER PRIMITIVE PLANT.

NEEDED AN EXTRA AMOUNT OF MOISTURE TO DO WELL, AND SHADE.

AND, OF COURSE, THEY FIND PLENTY OF THAT HERE.

SOMETHING WITH RED BERRIES OVER HERE.

YEAH, THAT'S AN INTERESTING PLANT-- BANEBERRY IS ONE O THE COMMON NAMES FOR IT.

BRILLIANT RED FRUIT ON IT.

DOLL'S-EYES ANOTHER NAME FOR THAT SPECIES.

THERE'S ANOTHER PRETTY PLANT WITH SPINY LEAVES AND A GLOSSY LOOK.

YEAH, COMPOUND LEAVES AND KIND OF SHINY AS YOU SAID, GLOSSY.

OREGON GRAPE IS ONE OF THE COMMON NAME FOR IT.

NOT REALLY A GRAPE BUT IT HAS GRAPE LIKE FRUIT ON IT WHEN FRUIT DEVELOPS.

IN THE BARBERRY FAMILY BUT AGAIN, TYPICAL OF THIS WOODED AREA HERE.

LET'S GET CLOSER TO THIS HUGE TREE.

OH, YEAH, HAVE TO GET CLOSE TO THIS THING.

ISN'T IT AMAZING?

GREATEST RECORDED VOLUME OF LIVING MATTER PER UNIT OF LAND SURFACE TAKEN UP.

IT JUST AWESOME.

YEAH, WHEN YOU STAND BY IT AND LOOK UP... NOW, SEE, THIS ONE--LOOK-- THERE'S A SPLIT IN THESE TREES.

IT AMAZING THE WAY THESE TREE GROW.

THEY NOT ONLY REPRODUCE SEXUALLY WITH SEED BUT THEY ALSO REPRODUCE ASEXUALLY.

WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE AS WE GO ALONG.

BUT LOOKING UP, OH MY GOODNESS-- STRAIGHT SHOT TO THE SKY.

OLDEST ONE WAS 2,200 YEARS OLD BUT THESE ARE PERHAPS 400 TO 800 YEARS OLD.

AND THEY GET YOU KNOW, TO BE OVER 360 FT HIGH WHICH IS A FOOTBALL FIELD TILTED UP PLUS.

HIGHER THAN THE SKY...

THE STATUE OF LIBERTY.

THAT'S HARD TO BELIEVE.

LOOK AT THIS NOW, WHILE WE'RE HERE.

LET'S JUST TURN AROUND.

LOOK AT THAT THING SITTING BY IT.

AND IT ALMOST LOOKS LIKE A TREE GROWING .

BUT SEE, IT'S A SPLINTERED BRANCH.

MY GOODNESS.

THESE TREES USED TO BE CALLED OR KNOWN AS WIDOW-MAKERS BECAUSE THE DEAD BRANCHES WOULD BREAK OFF AND THIS HIT YOU YOUR WIFE WOULD BE A WIDOW FOR SURE.

SO WIDOW-MAKER KIND OF TIES IN.

INTERESTING LITTLE... SELF-PRUNING I MEAN... YEAH, YEAH.

NATURE'S GOOD AT THAT.

LET'S JUST HEAD ON DOWN THE TRAIL.

I'M SURE THERE'S PLENTY TO SEE.

IT'S INTERESTING, THE WAY THIS'S SHADY ONE MOMENT AND BRIGHT AT THE NEXT, AND IN AND OUT.

VERY SPECIAL PLACE.

FOLKS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD COME OVER TO SEE THESE TREES.

INTERESTING FEELING WHEN YOU CAN STAND NEXT TO SOMETHING THAT LARGE.

AND OF COURSE, NOT ONLY LARGE, BUT OLD.

AND LOOK UP THE SIDE OF THAT TREE AND YOU THINK ABOUT WAY, WAY BACK IN TIME.

FIRE HAS HIT IS TREE.

YEAH, FIRE DOES COME THROUGH THESE FORESTS.

AND THE BIG TREES GENERALLY WITHSTAND IT FAIRLY WELL.

THICK BARK ON THEM, BUT THE YOUNG ONES ARE OFTEN DAMAGED.

ONE OTHER STRANGE THING OUT THIS TREE.. JUST LOOK DOWN A LITTLE BIT FROM US.

AND YOU SEE A LOT OF TREES WHERE THERE'S A BIG TRUNK AND LOOKS LIKE A LITTLE ONE COMING OFF TO THE SIDE.

AND OFTEN TIMES THESE THINGS SPROUT FROM THE BASE FROM THE BIG BURLED BASES AND IF THE BIG ONE WERE TO DIE FOR SOME REASON, OR BE DAMAGED YOU'VE GOT ANOTHER ONE COMING UP.

SEE VEGETATIVE REPRODUCTION AS WELL AS PRODUCING SEED.

I ALSO SEE SOME ROSE BAY RHODODENDRON DOWN THERE, JIM THAT REALLY BRIGHTENS THIS PLACE UP EARLIER IN THE YEAR.

DOING VERY WELL IN THE SHADE OF THESE REDWOODS.

IT'S A WONDERFUL AREA WHERE THE LADYBIRD JOHNSON TRAIL GOES RIGHT THROUGH THE GROVE HERE.

WELL, IT'S VERY EASY.

MOST ANYONE COULD COME DOWN AND BE WOWED BY THESE TREES AS WE HAVE BEEN.

AND EVERYWHERE YOU TURN, THERE'S SO MUCH TO SEE.

LOOK ON THE SIDE, THOUGH, RIGHT THERE.

LOOK AT THE BANANA SLUG.

OH, SURE.

IT'S ATTACHED TO THIS HOLLOWED-OUT TREE.

PART OF THE STORY HERE KIND OF OOZING ALONG, YEAH TAKING DEAD MATERIAL AND MAKING IT ALIVE AGAIN.

THE YELLOW COLOR GIVES IT THE NAME BANANA SLUG.

IT'S THE LARGEST LAND MOLLUSK THIS PART OF THE WORLD.

SEE THAT BIG OPENING-- THE BREATHING PORE ON THE SIDE HELPING TO RECYCLE.

YEAH, KIND OF SNAIL WITHOUT A SHELL AND THEN THE INSIDE OF THAT TREE.

WALK RIGHT IN IT.

WOW... AND LOOK AT THE WAY FIRE NOW, HAS REALLY SHAPED IT.

AND YET IT'S STILL ALIVE.

THE INSIDE OF THE TREE IS GONE.

THE SAPWOOD, THOUGH, REMAINS-- THE OUTSIDE.

STILL CARRYING WATER UP TO THE TIP-TOP.

AND THAT'S QUITE A JOB IN A FOREST LIKE THIS GETTING WATER FROM THE GROUND ALL THE WAY UP TO THE TIP-TOP OF THE TREES.

I SEE SOMETHING HE THAT'S KIND OF STRANGE, TOO, JIM.

THE CONE.

SOME OF THE SMALLEST CONES OF ANY OF THE CONIFERS ARE FOUND ON THE TALLEST TREE IN THE WORLD.

"BIG OAKS FROM TINY ACORNS GROW" IS WHAT I USED TO SAY.

NOW, AFTER SEEING THIS "BIG REDWOODS FROM TINY CONES GW...

TINY SEED GROW."

ISN'T THAT AMAZING, THOUGH?

VERY, AMAZING AND IT TAKES ABOUT 200 OF THOSE TO MAKE ONE POUND.

THE TREE IT SELF IS HUGE.

NEAT.

LETS 'PUT THAT DOWN AND LOOK AT COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS.

ONE THING DOWN LOW HERE THAT I SEE AS I PUT THAT DOWN ARE THE INTERESTING LITTLE OXALIS LEAVES.

SEE THAT DOWN THERE?

CLOVER LIKE MATERIAL.

VERY THE PLACE, YEAH.

AL REDWOOD SORREL IS THE COMMON NAME FOR THAT ONE.

AND THE LEAVES STICK UP, AND THEN WHEN IT GETS REALLY DRY THEY FLATTEN DOWN SO THEY WON'T SE TOO MUCH MOISTURE.

GOOD ROOT SYSTEM, REALLY, UNDERGROUND THAT WE DON'T EVEN SEE.

AND ONE OF THE UNDER STORY TREES IN HERE THAT'S KIND OF STRANGE IS ONE CALLED TAN OAK.

IT'S RELATED TO THE OAKS, BUT IT'S NOT A TRUE OAK BECAUSE THE FLOWERS ARE DIFFERENT FROM NORMAL OAK FLOWERS.

DIFFERENT GENUS NAME.

LOSES LEAVES IN WINTER?

YEAH, BUT LOOK AT THE... LOOK AT THE ACORNS MEAN, SEE, THERE IS THE OAK LOOKING PART OF THAT EVEN THOUGH THE FLOWERS ARE DIFFERENT THIS LOOKS A LOT LIKE A CROSS BETWEEN AN OAK TREE AND A RELATIVE THE CHINQUAPIN.

BUT TAN OAK IS THE COMMON NAME FOR IT AND IT IS VERY VERY COMMON IN HERE.

BEAUTIFUL BLUE BIRD ONE OF THE JAYS, PERHAPS OH, YEAH.

LOOK AT THE SIZE ON IT.

AND LOOK AT THE FACT IT DOES HAVE A CREST.

IT'S THE ONLY JAY WEST OF THE ROCKIES WITH A CREST.

COMMON NAME-- STELLER'S JAY.

AND SEE HOW DARK IT IS, JIM ON THE HEAD AND ON THE BACK AND THEN A LOT OF BLUE THE WINGS AND TOWARD THE TAIL.

FLUFFING UP ITS FEATHERS A LITTLE BIT IN THE SUNLIGHT.

STRANGE-LOOKING BEAK ON THAT BIRD.

THAT'S A LITTLE ABNORMAL BUT EVERYTHING ELSE IS TYPICAL.

AND ALSO, RIGHT IN FRONT OF US HERE RED HUCKLEBERRY.

LOOK AT THE GREEN ON THOSE LEAVES INTERESTING.

AND THEN THE REDDISH FRUIT VERY TYPICAL.

LOTS OF ANIMALS TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECYCLE THAT INTO THEMSELVES.

REDWOOD NATIONAL PARK HAS A LOT TO OFFER.

LET'S CONTINUE.

REALLY SO MUCH TO SEE AT A PLACE LIKE IS THAT WE' JUST SKIMMING THE SURFACE, JIM WITH THIS SMALL AMOUNT OF TIME THAT WE'RE SPENDING BEAUTIFUL PLACE TO COME FOR VACATION JUST TO RELAX AND ENJOY THINGS.

AND WHAT A VIEW HERE.

LOOKING OUT ON THE OCEAN WITH THE KLAMATH RIVER COMING IN.

AND YOU SEE ALL THE ACTIVITY DOWN THERE.

LOT FISHING ACTIVITY.

I SEE A FEW HEADS UP IN THE WATER DOWN THERE.

PROBABLY SEA LIONS TRYING TO GET HOLD OF SALMON OR TROUT THAT ARE COMING BACK UP.

I SEE FISHERMEN OUT THERE TRYING TO DO THE SAME THING.

THIS IS A ROUGH LITTLE AREA WHERE THE RIVER COMES INTO THE OCEAN BUT VERY IMPORTANT TO THOSE FISH.

LOOK AT ALL OF THE DEBRIS-- THE WOOD.

LOOKS LIKE LITTLE PICK-UP STICKS ALMOST THROWN UP THERE FROM THIS HEIGHT.

LOOK DOWN RIGHT HERE.

ONE OF THE HARBOR SEALS PLAYING RIGHT DOWN THERE.

LOOKS LIKE A HARBOR SEAL IN FRONT OF US.

SOME WHITE SPLOTCHES ON HIM.

YEAH, SORT OF A LEOPARD-LOOKING COLORATION PATTERN.

AGAIN, TAKING ANIMALS- FISH, MAINLY-- AND CHANGING THEM INTO SEAL OR, AS WE SAID EARLIER, SEA LION.

THEY'RE ABOUT SIX FEET LONG, I GUESS, CLOSE UP.

ON THE SEA STACK DOWN THERE SEE THE BROWN PELICANS?

SITTING UP RIGHT AT THE TOP.

OH, YEAH.

SITTING RIGHT UP AT THE TOP.

PREENING YEAH, ND A LITTLE BIT ARE THEY RESIDENT HERE, RUDY OH, YEAH, AND THEY'RE FISH EATERS, TOO.

AND THEN DOWN THE ROCK A LITTLE BIT SOME OF THE CORMORANTS-- THOSE VERY DARK BIRDS.

AND THEN YOU SEE THE WHITE WASH ON THAT ROCK-- DROPPINGS FROM THOSE BIRDS OVER A LONG PERIOD OF TIME.

AND IN THE DISTANCE, SEA STACKS AGAIN.

PACIFIC OCEAN OUT THERE.

REMEMBER THE PACIFIC PLATE WE WERE TALKING ABOUT COVERED BASICALLY WITH OCEAN THE NORTH AMERICAN PLATE-- WE'RE STANDING IN IT.

THERE'S A CONTINENT HERE.

STILL MOVING.

AND THAT PLATE IS BEING PUSHED UNDER THE NORTH AMERICAN PLATE FORCING UP THIS ROCK.

THERE IS SO MUCH NATURAL BEAUTY IT'S NO WONDER PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD COME TO REDWOOD NATIONAL PARK.

RIGHT, AND THE NAME, OF COURSE, IMPLIES THAT THE ONLY THING HERE ARE THE REDWOODS WHICH IS PLENTY, OF COURSE BUT THERE'S SO MUCH MORE DIVERSITY HERE SINCE THEY'RE RIGHT ALONG THE COAST.

AND IT'S FUN TO BE STANDING AT THE BASE OF ONE OF THOSE, LOOKING UP AND THEN COME TO A PLACE UP LIKE THIS AND BE ABLE TO LOOK DOWN AT THE COAST.

SO MUCH HERE TO SEE.

AND A SPECIAL FEELING THAT'S HARD TO DESCRIBE.

U HAVE TO REALLY EXPERIENCE IT FOR YOURSELF.

AND LATE AUGUST IS A GOOD TIME TO COME.

IT'S ON THE NORTH COAST OF CALIFORNIA NEAR OREGON.

SOMETHING YOU DO NEED TO SEE AND FEEL FOR YOURSELF.

JOIN US AGAIN ON THE NEXT NATURE SCENE.

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