If you’re into history (like me) and if you love trees (again, like me) this episode is the perfect fit! Although this episode originally aired over 20 years ago on October 10, 2003, both trees still survive — more or less. You may not see the historic Vizcaino-Serra oak tree standing tall in its original location, but if you are willing to look around, bits and pieces of the tree do exist. By the way, in doing a bit of research about the more recent history of both trees, I came across another impressive old-growth tree — one that is still surviving and doing very well. Huell could not have known about it because its age was investigated fairly recently, in 2019, but the oldest known redwood tree in Monterey County can be found southeast of Carmel, in the Mitteldorf Preserve. This beautiful giant has been estimated to date back to the 8th century. It’s difficult to imagine, but this tree would have been a seedling back in 734 A.D. We should all do so well in our old age!
Huell visits two trees in Monterey with interesting histories. In December, 1602 Sebastian Viscaino officially named Monterey in honor of the Viceroy of New Spain who had ordered his expedition. His band of 200 men gave thanks for their safe journey in a ceremony held under a large oak tree overlooking the bay which still stands. And then he’s off to see the famous Lone Cypress, a 200-300-year-old tree standing alone on a rock jutting out over the ocean.
(Click on the linked image below to see the video.)
