Redwoods and Sequoias (Columbia, Mariposa: transplants, centers, bikes)

[payutenyodagimas]

Originally Posted by Ruth4Truth

It's very confusing when people say things like "go to Yosemite for the sequoias", or "the sequoias are thicker". They're all sequoias. I've never heard that type of usage, except for on this forum.

Oh well. :-/

who is in his right mind tells the scientific names of things? we are not in botany class

[bornincali]

If you want to see the best examples of the species-then yes Yosemite.

If you just want to mark Sequioadendron giganteum off your bucket list I suppose it isn't too big a deal. They are always spectacular.

[DMenscha]

Actually go to Calaveras Big Trees State Park. Closer. Not so many waterfalls though.

[nslander]

Originally Posted by Ruth4Truth

It's very confusing when people say things like "go to Yosemite for the sequoias", or "the sequoias are thicker". They're all sequoias. I've never heard that type of usage, except for on this forum.

Oh well. :-/

Even where there are two respectively named National Parks?

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by payutenyodagimas

who is in his right mind tells the scientific names of things? we are not in botany class

That wasn't the point at all. Most people refer to them as "coastal redwoods" vs. "sierra redwoods", if they want to differentiate. Otherwise, they're all referred to generically as "redwoods". Or out-of-state people sometimes refer to them all generically as "sequoias". It's a generic term, not one that's specific to one type or the other.

[Ruth4Truth]

And btw, fwiw, I had a great time at the Big Basin regional park last weekend. It claims to have two of the oldest coastal redwoods around. Unless the OP decides to go as far as Yosemite or the Bay Area, it's outside her range, though.

[HockeyMac18]

Originally Posted by Ruth4Truth

That wasn't the point at all. Most people refer to them as "coastal redwoods" vs. "sierra redwoods", if they want to differentiate. Otherwise, they're all referred to generically as "redwoods". Or out-of-state people sometimes refer to them all generically as "sequoias". It's a generic term, not one that's specific to one type or the other.

A lot of people refer to "sierra redwoods" (Sequoiadendron giganteum) simply as "Sequoias". It's a quite common thing. I think the national park being called "Sequoia National Park" is partly responsible for popularizing that, although I don't know the history on that etymology. Now that you mention it, I don't think I've ever read/heard anyone say "Sierra Redwood" - although if I heard/read it, I would know they were referring to Sequoiadendron giganteum.

I've never heard anyone refer to coastal redwoods as "Sequoias", unless they were spelling out their scientific name (Sequoia sempervirens). People just generally call them "Redwoods".

[blueskywalker]

No one (well, no one who lives in and around the coastal redwoods) refers to the coastal redwoods as sequoias.
And that's the truth ... ruth.

[payutenyodagimas]

Originally Posted by HockeyMac18

A lot of people refer to "sierra redwoods" (Sequoiadendron giganteum) simply as "Sequoias". It's a quite common thing. I think the national park being called "Sequoia National Park" is partly responsible for popularizing that, although I don't know the history on that etymology. Now that you mention it, I don't think I've ever read/heard anyone say "Sierra Redwood" - although if I heard/read it, I would know they were referring to Sequoiadendron giganteum.

I've never heard anyone refer to coastal redwoods as "Sequoias", unless they were spelling out their scientific name (Sequoia sempervirens). People just generally call them "Redwoods".

I agree. common people refer to the giants as Sequoias and the tallest as Redwoods

[mdvaden]

Originally Posted by Mr5150

Ah, but the Sequois are much thicker on average.

Not necessarily.

In 2014 and 2015, coast redwood took the title away from giant sequoia for the thickest (widest) trunk in the USA. So coast redwoods are the tallest and widest known trees in this country. No question Sequoiadendron are large though. But the drive is double or triple coming from the north.

RE the OP question, its impractical to see both species in the same area. Considering your parents are coming from the north, the most practical experience to conserve time and see grand trees, is Redwood National and State Parks of Del Norte and Humboldt counties. Avenue of the Giants or Humboldt Redwoods State Park would be an extra, but not essential. You can see trees over 350 feet tall. And rangers can point you to a few trees over 20 feet diameter if you want something big looking too.

I go the coast redwoods about every 6 weeks for fun and adventure.

Look to the lower right side of the trunk for scale.