LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, FEBRUARY '02
Steve, Amanda, & a redwood (much bigger than the humans and, so, mostly out of frame — they can be taller than the Statue of Liberty and larger around than a bus). Redwoods are so big because they're astoundingly old for trees. They can live centuries because they have good protection against their few natural enemies: For instance, the bark is up to a foot thick and forms a protective shield against fire. Their trunks are filled with tannin (also in wine, which is what gives them their red color), which bugs apparently find distasteful. When knocked over, their limbs will continue growing upright and even form new trees. Even when they die, in fact, they're usually already cloned successors. They stand up to earthquakes by bending, swaying from their anchored roots. It was really shady in the forest.

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