The Great Basin Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest in The White Mountains of California/Nevada have the world’s oldest living non-clonal organisms, ancient bristlecone pine trees. Non-clonal means these trees are not genetic duplicates of a parent organism, but are in fact, original organisms.
The oldest known tree in the basin is 5,065 years old and was germinated in 3051 BC. This tree started growing before the first pyramid was built-in Egypt.
Another, Methuselah, is 4,848 years old.
The White Mountains run parallel to the Sierras in the west and Death Valley in the east.
White Mountain is a sister peak to Mt. Whitney, the highest mountain in the continental US. When you hike here you look to your left at almost eye level with Mt. Whitney, and to your right at the lowest non-submerged place in North America, Death Valley.
In the dolomite covered White Mountains these ancient organisms continue to thrive in white powdery soil that was once an ancient sea bed.
When you touch the non-bark covered cambium layer of these ancient ones, it is like touching living stone. Something you have never felt before.
The bristlecones survive possibly because they live in an isolated hostile location, which makes them strong, and creates the almost impervious density of their stone-like structure.
To say that I was blown away by being here is a huge understatement.
I am hoping the lack of protection afforded the ancient ones is purposeful. They are hard to get to, even harder to hike to, and not very many people know about them. Plus, for much of the year, due to winter snow, they are inaccessible.
There is nothing here but these living fossils.
I never knew about these trees, even though I have driven near them all my life to go skiing, and now I can’t even imagine the world without them.
Cheers to you from the ancient ones~
http://www.arizona.edu/keepers-prometheus-worlds-oldest-tree
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_oldest_trees
http://www.historyofinformation.com/expanded.php?id=3441
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Reblogged this on Smorgasbord – Variety is the spice of life and commented:
As you know I am a huge fan of Cinday Knoke and her incredible photography.. This post however is simply unmissable. If only these trees could talk… what tales they could tell from their 5000 year lifetimes.. Head over and catch the whole article.
Plants apparently do communicate with each other. We just don’t speak their language!
http://www.wired.com/2013/12/secret-language-of-plants/
There is a legend that any scientist who cut into these trees has come to an untimely end, much like the curse of the pharoahs tomb. Thank you Sally for championing the ancient ones and be well my dear friend~
Fascinating thank you Cindy.. I shall watch my Ps and Qs around the trees and plants as we remove from our jungle. xx
I bet the trees know you are their friend!
Wonderful place and photo’s, Cindy!
Very happy you think so & cheers to you~
Really really awesome photos, and information. Thank you so much for taking the time to share this.
Thank you more for taking the time to appreciate them! 🌳
I had no idea such ancient trees existed – and in CA of all places!
Exactly my reaction. It’s like not seeing my nose on my face!
Amazing ancient trees! I never knew about it, too. I know that gingko bilboa tree is very old, but these are older 🙂
There are some trees that are a lot older, like the tree Buddha sat under, but those trees are clonal, genetic duplicates. The bristlecones are originals! 🌳
seeing the pictures , it looks like we have crafted
but , it’s just pretty
WP put about ten comments from my blogging friends in spam. I heard another blogger say this happened to them, so I checked spam, and it happened to me too. Thank you so much for your kind words and I am sorry I almost missed them!
Me too, I have the habit to check the spam, because there was some of the comments put by WP in this place, I wonder why
Thank you so much
Have a very nice tuesday Cindy
Kisses
Yes, I will check now too and I am so very glad I didn’t miss these lovely words from you! <3
Amazing captures of different trees. Love the first pix and the one encased in a rock. Thanks for sharing! Beautiful!
I was amazed by this tree growing out of solid rock. It takes these trees hundreds of years to grow to a small tree and they can only grow in inhospitable soil and harsh conditons. If you plant them in your garden, they will die of root rot. Ignore them and they grow forever!
Nature have her ways! 😉😊
Stunning.
They are amazing aren’t they!
echt schön wieder, beste Grüße von mir für dich
Sie sind ein schoner Freund. Vielen Dank und gut sein! 🌳
vielen Dank, gebe ich gerne zurück, schönen Donnerstag möglichst mit Sonne wünsche ich uns
Alles Gute fur Sie mein Freund. Und danke fur die zuruck!
One of my favorite places ever. You can feel it is special while you are there. I recognize some of the trees. Great pics!
I am so glad you have experienced it and know the feeling!
Such strength in age – simply wonderful blend of colour and texture that only maturity can bring; ain’t mother nature wonderful <3
Mother Nature rocks & rolls!! 🌳
Fascinating information and exquisite photos!
Thank you Carol and be well my friend~ <3
Great post, Cindy. I didn’t know about these trees either. Thanks for sharing. 🙂 — Suzanne
It is wonderful there are still surprises like this waiting for us on this planet of ours! 🌳
The first photo took my breath away. I love photos of trees, especially ones like this. I will use it, and maybe some of the others, in a future GreenFriends newsletter.
I came to your blog this time to invite you to look at the Wordless Wednesday photo I put up today. I think you will like it. I’m doing new things with my blog. I know that it is photographs like yours that make me ever more interested in photography.
Thank you so much for championing these trees! They deserve our love and care. I will head over forthwith to see your new photography and look forward to it! 🌳
Wow Cindy, just blown away by the beauty you shared here! You are Awesome sauce!!!
Visa versa 2UX2!
How about that? Tolkien’s Ents are real …
Yes!!! And they talk with each other and put curses on humans who cut into them. Tolkien knew!!!
🌳
Amazing facts<3
Thank you. I was fascinated to learn all this too!
<3 Learning is one of the great joys of life:-)
It is especially when the information is transformative and surprising!
So amazing, Cindy. It just boggles the mind to imagine them starting out so long ago. 🙂
They are mind boggling. Somehow I get the sense they are not all that impressed with us, but then, why should they be!
Exactly so. 😳
🌳
Reblogged this on Random Ramblings; Myriad Musings and commented:
Ancient trees, beautifully captured…thank you, Cindy!
🙂
Thank you my friend for loving the trees! 🌳 🌳
Thank you for taking time to capture and share their beauty…it’s definitely appreciated!
🙂
<3 <3
These trees are amazing! Just beautiful.
They are sculpted into amazing shapes by time and circumstance. So glad you like them too & cheers to you~ 🌳
Nature’s art
I had read about that special place before and I’d love to visit it. I am grateful to have did it across your eyes. Thank you, Cindy. : )
I am so happy you appreciate the trees and I do hope you go and visit them. I’d love to go back in winter in snow shoes but the road most likely will be closed. 🌳 🌳
Cindy, your photography is outstanding ~ takes my breath away . . .
I am honored, and humbled. Thank you! 🌳
So much beauty in one post, Cindy!!
Awww, thank you & cheers too~ 🌳
wonderful trees, Beauty in decay, Beauty in old Age. Beauty in harsh surroundings. Thanks for showing us.
True beauty is not just for the young, in trees and in everything and everyone~ 🌳
If there was a possibility to fly over there tonight – I would. LOVE these! How incredibly lucky you are to have found them, seen them, touched them…You do not understand how much I envy you! Thank you for sharing this with us.
Yes! I want you to come and visit them! 🌳🌳 For both my husband and I it was a reverential experience. I can’t believe I live in the same state and have never seen them. Thank you so much for appreciating the wonder of the ancient ones Leya and be well my dear friend~
I wish…Maybe some day!
Wow! Never heard of these trees… ! Some of them look like they will roll up their roots and start walking around… fascinating! Just imagine they could talk… I think I’d pick up my roots and go and live with them to listen and learn…
I think maybe they can talk, to each other! Check out:
http://mentalfloss.com/article/66302/5-ways-plants-communicate
I just so wish we could understand them! Like Buddha we could sit at their trunks and learn the wisdom and secrets of the ages. 🌳
I had seen a documentary about the plants/trees proactive defenses quite some time ago… It is indeed a matter of learning their language, isn’t it… 🙂
But I’m afraid it will take me a few more lives to get to that point… :-/
Like an enchanted forest Cindy. Astounding to think how many years these beauties exist. <3
I think they know all of our secrets…… 🌳
I’ll be they do. 🙂
But they won’t tell!
https://sc.mogicons.com/l/keeping-secret-253.png
Hi Cindy! I always see something fabulous here and today I’m learning something fabulous too. Thanks for blowing my mind this morning, I’m glad I made myself a double Latte, LOL Holy snap! 3051 BC !! Congratulations on getting up there for these awesome photo’s. I’m really glad it’s inaccessible, mankind has a way of spoiling the most wondrous gifts mother nature gives us. xb
I love your comments and the way you think and write my friend. You are so clever and your writing is so cheerful. Be well & thank you!
Blush, you’ve made my day Cindy! Thank you. Well now, I think you’re the bee’s knees too, so there you go. We’re like peanut butter and jam xB
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/22/3d/94/223d9471f9917c557b50c0447d923f0c.jpg
Thank you so much for sharing this wonderous find with us and I too am glad it’s hard to get to so they can continue to survive in peace. Hope you are safe from the horrific fires racing through Southern California.
Thank you. I haven’t read the news today, it is too upsetting. We went through evacuation eight years ago at our former home in the burbs and now all these years later conditions are so much worse. I hope the ancient ones remain untouched.
Truly amazing! Wow
Age had gravitas doesn’t it! 🌳
yes!!! You bring so many cool things that I have never seen before, thank you for that!
<3 <3
All I can say is that I agree that those trees are the Methuselah Grove – not only are they ancient, but they look it. Beautiful photos!
Thank you. They look like they posess the wisdom of the ages don’t they! 🌳
Utterly breathtaking. Im not sure why your posts are not showing up in my Reader 🙁 so I just trekked on over for a peruse!
It happens to a fair number of people and it is quite annoying. It happens to me too~
Such beauty ~ twisted beauty ~ of these trees and the landscape you have captured Cindy. Unreal and it almost feels like a different planet looking at these photos. Incredible, and I hope one day to sit and admire such a view 🙂
I hope you do visit Randall because selfishly, I would love to see your photos! 🌳
🙂 Now that is worth the trip by itself 🙂
This was in spam too!! So sorry I almost missed it and thank you!!!
How fortunate you are to have experienced these ancient ones, Cindy. I have great reverence for these sacred trees and hope someday to see them for myself. Such a gift!
Yes, knowing what you value Eliza, I know you would love these 🌳🌳🌳! I hope you visit so I can see your photos and share your impressions~
“They” would hew them if “They” could! Thank you for this post!
They would and it is disgusting isn’t it. But if they do, the trees may well put a curse on them! I wouldn’t want to anger the ancient ones….. 🌳🌳
I love the trees, each with a unique personality. Wandering among them creates a sense of humility, Cindy, at least for me. They provide their own definition of tough. I also think they have great beauty (which you captured). Have I raved enough? The view isn’t bad either: two of my favorite places— Death Valley and the High Sierra! Thanks for sharing. –Curt
And The White Mountains in between with the San Andreas running through it all. California has some pretty intense natural beauty!
That it does Cindy! Keep bringing it to us with you photos… 🙂
<3
Cindy!
Oh! These are wonderful trees and a sight.
They to seems to be witness to many thousands of years.
Because of their isolation they are still able to get to see.
Posts on your capture.
Shiva
The trees thank you for seeing them as they are, and so do I Shiva! They are incredible living fossils~ 🌳🌳
They and you are lucky then.
It is amazing that Man has kept them alive till date. So we have to thank every being who has come across them to have allowed them to live.
Shiva
😊🙌
And we need to thank you Shiva for respecting all living things~ <3
I’m blown away just looking at your gorgeous photos of these majestic trees!
Yes. We are still blown away by the experience and will be for some time. Whoever it is that doesn’t love a tree is no friend of mine~ 🌳🌳
Between the on going drought and wildfires out there, it is amazing they are still there, undisturbed and growing.
Yes, the state is in severe distress. I think a lot of the fires are caused by arsonists throwing incendiaries out of cars near freeways.
So sad that Calif. is going through all that, but sad too in why and how it started with the arson and carelessness.
Yes, it has just begun. Fire season peaks in Sept/Oct…..
Stunning pictures!
Merci beaucoup mon ami!
You’re welcome! 😊
Thank you for taking us along! This was educational and amazing!
Thank you more for appreciating the trees! 🌳
They really are amazing!
<3
Wow, Cindy, that is fabulous and original motive – I like so much your quality of photos – fantastic! Bye. Kamila
I am so glad you do and cheers to you Kamila~
Amazing beautiful place Cindy 🙂
It certainly was memorable to see and touch these amazing trees!
I believe you Cindy 🙂
<3
Those tree “statues” are monumental works of art. Thank you, Mother Nature.
Wonderful pictures, Cindy 🙂
Part of the grove is called ‘The Sculpture Garden’ because of the presence of so many of these standing trees! 🌳 🌳
If only trees could talk.
Apparently they can!
http://www.wired.com/2013/12/secret-language-of-plants/
http://www.axtell.com/2treesfullsm.jpg
fascinating!
Merci beaucoup mon ami! <3
This is magical Cindy– beyond time… (and, of course, beautifully photographed).
Ahhh, you are a lovely friend Rhonda~
What a wonderful post with fascinating photos. Those trees! Thank you for sharing.
Thank you much more for valuing the ancient ones! 🌳 🌳
Splendido weekend Cindy 🙂
E anche tu il mia amica ~
Thanks for sharing your amazing adventure.
So glad you joined me Sheri and hoping all is well with you and Tom~ <3