Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06DUSHANBE799
2006-04-28 12:03:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Dushanbe
Cable title:
TAJIKISTAN'S SEQUOIAS, FROM CALIFORNIA TO DUSHANBE
how-toVZCZCXRO8118 RR RUEHLN RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHDBU #0799 1181203 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 281203Z APR 06 FM AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7374 INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 1583 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 1593 RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 1565 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 1562 RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 1516 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 1520 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 1507 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 1392 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 1338 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1122 RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 1553 RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 1590 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS 0909 RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE 8591
UNCLAS DUSHANBE 000799
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL EAGR SENV TI
SUBJECT: TAJIKISTAN'S SEQUOIAS, FROM CALIFORNIA TO DUSHANBE
UNCLAS DUSHANBE 000799
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL EAGR SENV TI
SUBJECT: TAJIKISTAN'S SEQUOIAS, FROM CALIFORNIA TO DUSHANBE
1. A recent letter from a 75-year-old amateur historian William
Allen in California shows Tajikistan is not totally unknown.
Allen wanted to know if sequoia trees, native to California's
Sierra Nevada, were thriving in Tajikistan and attached a copy
of a 1964 news article that reported Dushanbe imported 5,000
trees from California in 1934, including giant sequoias. The
article quoting ITAR-TASS says, "It was formerly believed that
sea mists were required for the normal growth of this tree,
which is dying out in natural conditions," adding that Soviet
scientists, "by successfully planting them in Tadjikistan (sic),
have proved otherwise."
2. Despite initial doubt by EmbOffs and the fact that
Tajikistan is far, far away from any sea mists, a few sequoias
from California are indeed scattered throughout Dushanbe.
Post's New Embassy Compound landscaper, a former director of the
Dushanbe Botanical Gardens, gave POLOFF a detailed horticultural
history of sequoias in Dushanbe and showed EmbOffs where the
sequoias are located. "Are these really sequoia trees?" EmbOffs
questioned repeatedly. "Yes, 100% sure!" proclaimed the
landscaper. Post responded to Allen and the Department of
Interior to whom Allen had initially written, with photos
attached. Allen, was tremendously happy with the response and
offered via e-mail a "big kiss and hug" to EmbOffs. (COMMENT:
A thank you will do fine. END COMMENT.)
3. The following is the text of the Ambassador's response to
Allen and the Department of the Interior official.
Dear Mr. Allen:
Thank you for your keen interest in the botanical history of
Dushanbe and for sharing the interesting article from your local
paper. As an avid gardener myself, I wanted to make sure we
found accurate information for you.
A number of trees imported from the United States to Tajikistan
are from California, although exactly how many is no longer
known. According to a local expert botanist, the Dushanbe
Botanical Gardens display about 450 types of trees from the
United States. Planted throughout the city of Dushanbe are 130
tree varieties from all over the world, including 30 from the
United States.
Sequoia trees can be seen along Rudaki Avenue, the main street
in the capital, and a total of 130 sequoias grow in Dushanbe,
some reaching up to 40 meters. Many more sequoias were planted
in 1935, but unfortunately, some have been damaged and did not
survive through the years. I cannot confirm that 5,000 trees
were brought from California in 1934. However, the Botanical
Gardens reported that 5,000 trees were brought from Russia at
that time.
I hope you will enjoy the accompanying photo of a sequoia tree
in Dushanbe. I look forwarding to reading any relevant articles
you may write for the Tulare County Historical Society
Quarterly.
Sincerely,
Richard Hoagland
HOAGLAND
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL EAGR SENV TI
SUBJECT: TAJIKISTAN'S SEQUOIAS, FROM CALIFORNIA TO DUSHANBE
1. A recent letter from a 75-year-old amateur historian William
Allen in California shows Tajikistan is not totally unknown.
Allen wanted to know if sequoia trees, native to California's
Sierra Nevada, were thriving in Tajikistan and attached a copy
of a 1964 news article that reported Dushanbe imported 5,000
trees from California in 1934, including giant sequoias. The
article quoting ITAR-TASS says, "It was formerly believed that
sea mists were required for the normal growth of this tree,
which is dying out in natural conditions," adding that Soviet
scientists, "by successfully planting them in Tadjikistan (sic),
have proved otherwise."
2. Despite initial doubt by EmbOffs and the fact that
Tajikistan is far, far away from any sea mists, a few sequoias
from California are indeed scattered throughout Dushanbe.
Post's New Embassy Compound landscaper, a former director of the
Dushanbe Botanical Gardens, gave POLOFF a detailed horticultural
history of sequoias in Dushanbe and showed EmbOffs where the
sequoias are located. "Are these really sequoia trees?" EmbOffs
questioned repeatedly. "Yes, 100% sure!" proclaimed the
landscaper. Post responded to Allen and the Department of
Interior to whom Allen had initially written, with photos
attached. Allen, was tremendously happy with the response and
offered via e-mail a "big kiss and hug" to EmbOffs. (COMMENT:
A thank you will do fine. END COMMENT.)
3. The following is the text of the Ambassador's response to
Allen and the Department of the Interior official.
Dear Mr. Allen:
Thank you for your keen interest in the botanical history of
Dushanbe and for sharing the interesting article from your local
paper. As an avid gardener myself, I wanted to make sure we
found accurate information for you.
A number of trees imported from the United States to Tajikistan
are from California, although exactly how many is no longer
known. According to a local expert botanist, the Dushanbe
Botanical Gardens display about 450 types of trees from the
United States. Planted throughout the city of Dushanbe are 130
tree varieties from all over the world, including 30 from the
United States.
Sequoia trees can be seen along Rudaki Avenue, the main street
in the capital, and a total of 130 sequoias grow in Dushanbe,
some reaching up to 40 meters. Many more sequoias were planted
in 1935, but unfortunately, some have been damaged and did not
survive through the years. I cannot confirm that 5,000 trees
were brought from California in 1934. However, the Botanical
Gardens reported that 5,000 trees were brought from Russia at
that time.
I hope you will enjoy the accompanying photo of a sequoia tree
in Dushanbe. I look forwarding to reading any relevant articles
you may write for the Tulare County Historical Society
Quarterly.
Sincerely,
Richard Hoagland
HOAGLAND