United States Ambassador Mr Jeffrey Bleich
Mrs Rebecca Bleich
Chief Minister Jon Stanhope, MLA
Left: Chief Minister, Jon Stanhope MLA, US Ambassador Mr Jeffrey Bleich, Mrs Rebecca Bleich and Mr John Mackay
On Friday 14 May 2010, the Chief Minister Jon Stanhope MLA, joined the United States Ambassador Mr Jeffrey Bleich, and his wife Mrs Rebecca Bleich, to each planting a Sequoiadedron giganteum, commonly known as a giant sequoia, at the National Arboretum Canberra.
The giant sequoias will form part of a magnificent forest of sequoias that will create a spectacular sight for visitors to the Arboretum. The giant sequoia is a vulnerable species which occurs naturally in Sierra Nevada, California. The evergreen conifer is the world’s largest tree in terms of volume, growing up to 90 metres tall with a trunk of up to seven metres in diameter.
Several factors contribute to the long life of the giant sequoia including its unusually thick fibrous bark which is fire-resistant. Many trees in Sequoia National Park, California, are more than 3000 years old and are still growing vigorously.
These towering giants will become a symbol of the great strength that exists in the bond between the people of Australia and those of the United States, and are sure to be a popular attraction within the Arboretum.