Sequoia National Park, CA

The central valley of California is the fruit and
vegetable heart of America. Here you see an orange grove.

We found plums, peaches and nectarines being sold
at roadside stands. I saw olive and walnut trees
for the first time in my life. There were many grape
vines to produce an ocean of wine!

I really like these Italian cypress trees. They
thrive in Mediterranean climates. Sorry I
can't raise them in NJ.

Now on to Sequoia National Park.

This yucca in bloom stands about 7 feet tall with
a stem 3 inches in diameter.

I finally saw my first bear! Even though it looks
brown, it really is a black bear.

This is our first look at sequoias. These are
youngsters compared to the true giants.

This large sequoia fell across the road a few decades
ago. It was decided to cut a tunnel through the tree
rather than try to remove it.

General Sherman is a true giant sequoia. It is more
than 2500 years old and is 36.5 feet in diameter.
The small person in front is Bill!

Jean and the General Grant tree. It is only
slightly smaller than the General Sherman tree.

The top of the General Grant tree towers
272 feet in the air.