Yvonne Labbe's Avatar: Redwood Tree

My avatar is a young coast redwood tree. It's also called the sequoia and California redwood. The evergreen is a member of the cypress family.

I grew up around redwoods as a native northern Californian. And after living in Louisiana for a year, I’ve found that besides my best friend, trees are what I miss most about home.

Redwoods and I seem to have similar needs and life philosophies. The trees prefer full sun, but can survive in shaded areas. One of my favorite pastimes is lying outside during the daytime. Redwoods like mild, rainy winters and dry summers. I appreciate rain, but not too much of it. The afternoon downpours and quick floods in Louisiana aggravate me. The redwood is also monoecious. I too, am comfortable with gender neutrality.

The tree represents what I want to be. It’s fast growing, adding 3 to 6 feet per year. I want to be constantly learning and expanding my mind and abilities as well. Redwoods can get up to 300 feet tall and live up to 2,200 years old. I want to mature into something great and impacting. Redwoods are home to birds, reptiles, amphibians, and endangered species. I want to be accommodating to a diverse group, especially those in need.

I see myself as a redwood seedling right now. I’m in college, loosely planning where to set my roots down. Hopefully I’ll settle in a climate conducive to growth, in a natural forest or preserve rather than by the freeway or in a private lumber farm. I'd rather enjoy and contribute to my environment. Like the trees, I don't think I was born to be cut down.