Giant Sequoias in Victoria

I have been awestruck the last few days, by a tree.

We are house-sitting for a friend who lives beside Irving Park in James Bay, on the top floor of her apartment building (14th, although it is really 13th, since the numbering skips from 12 to 14). Looking out her window, I saw the spire of a tall tree, which looked to be taller than the building. Assuming 14 feet per floor, that makes the tree at least 182 feet tall.

After talking to another neighbour, and researching on the internet, I have learned that this tree is probably one of the two or three largest and tallest trees in Victoria. It is a Giant Sequoia, planted in the late 1850's, from seedlings gifted to Victoria by the state of California.

Giant Sequoia, Irving Park. This photo was taken from a 14th floor window.

This particular tree is in Irving Park, located at the corner of Michigan and Menzies Streets, and named for the Irving estate which was located here. 

There are a number of Giant Sequoias in Victoria. In California, where they are native, they have been known to be as old as 3,000 years. Three millennia! 

The tree that I look at out the window is but a baby at perhaps 150 years old.

I found the following diagram that compares some of the planet's big trees. The Sequoia may not be the tallest, but because of the diameter of its trunk, it is the largest on the planet.

Source: https://vancouverislandbigtrees.blogspot.com/

There are a number of other Giant Sequoias in Victoria, each with some claim to fame. One at the Campus Honda dealership on Burnside and Finlayson grows surrounded by pavement. The tree, estimated at 125 feet tall, has been lit up with over 2,500 lights this Christmas. 

Giant Sequoia, Victoria. Source: https://www.peninsulanewsreview.com/news/giant-sequoia-to-light-up-victoria-sky/ Photographer: Megan Williams

I am so impressed that this tree still stands, coexisting with commercial interests.

Another tall tree which also grows on private property is on the corner of Moss and Richardson Streets.

Giant Sequoia at the corner of Moss and Richardson Streets Source: https://vancouverislandbigtrees.blogspot.com/2012/12/largest-tree-in-victoria-bc-is-giant.html

Giant Sequoia at the corner of Moss and Richardson Streets
Source: https://vancouverislandbigtrees.blogspot.com/2012/12/largest-tree-in-victoria-bc-is-giant.html

There are of course Giant Sequoias in Beacon Hill Park, and there is one in front of the Legislature. That tree is considered the most frequently photographed tree in Victoria. Here is the plaque on the tree. As noted, it is the official provincial Christmas tree!

I see evidence of great appreciation for trees in Victoria. According to an article in the James Bay Beacon, at one time there used to be tours of some of the streets in James Bay, just to look at the heritage trees. Within a small area of a few blocks, over 40 varieties of significant heritage trees were identified. Irving Park, where the Giant Sequoia stands that I so enjoy, is at the centre of this area.

While the tours in the community no longer take place, there is still tree appreciation. I was walking through Beacon Hill Park when I came across a group of people with a park staff person; they were enjoying a "Tree Appreciation Day"!

Beacon Hill Park

I have seen a variety of efforts to build around trees, rather than remove them. 

Here are a couple of creative examples:

Fence custom-built around a tree, off Dallas Road, near Menzies Street

Another fence built around a tree, this one on Government Street

With all the development and redevelopment taking place in different parts of Victoria, may this spirit of tree appreciation continue.