To walk among the giant redwoods feels sacred: Shafts of sunlight shift slowly as they take their place in this natural cathedral. Despite their beauty and height, redwood trees cannot make all the food they need. They need the help of mushrooms, lichens, and other organisms to supply them the remainder of the food they need. Did you know that over 200 kinds of organisms help them thrive?

Today’s photo shows a rare, albino redwood in northern California. Albino trees have no chlorophyll. Thus, they cannot make any food for themselves. How did it come to be, and how does it live?…