Tree Factory The Archangel Ancient Tree Archive’s 225-square-meter propagation facility is located in the tiny town of Copemish, Mich. With fewer than 200 residents, the more than 10,000 small trees in this building alone vastly outnumber town people... Credit: Gary Howe
Taking Root These cuttings were taken from an ancient coastal redwood and exposed to a plant hormone that promotes root growth. Credit: Gary Howe
Cut From The Same Cloth It takes about six months to a year for the cuttings to grow strong enough to be ready to be planted. Each will grow into a tree that is genetically identical to the one it was cut from... Credit: Gary Howe
Milarch's Mission David Milarch, co-founder of the Archangel Ancient Tree Archive, holds some cloned coastal redwoods that are ready to be planted. Credit: Gary Howe
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Micropropagation Some specimens are cloned via micropropagation. With this technique it is possible to clone trees from samples of new green growth, as small as three millimeters long, in a jar with nutrients and rooting hormone on the bottom... Credit: Gary Howe
Packing Plants The Archangel team packs the trees in cardboard boxes with a waterproof lining and biodegradable packing material. Credit: Gary Howe
Oregon Bound On February 9 Archangel shipped 1,000 coastal redwoods to Oregon. During the next month they were planted along the California–Oregon border in parks, on private estates and elsewhere... Credit: Gary Howe
Climate Control To meet the needs of the different species in the facility, four different climates can be maintained by regulating temperature and misting in separate chambers. Credit: Gary Howe
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Up A Tree Procuring the samples necessary for propagation is no easy task. Here, David Milarch views photos of his son, Chris, climbing a redwood. Credit: Gary Howe
![Ancient Trees Sprout New Life [Slide Show]](https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/0160CE74-DC00-4514-B322E71F2CB5BCBD.jpg?w=590&h=393)
