The Great Basin bristlecone pine is considered the longest-living organism on earth, with a confirmed living tree that is older than 5,000 years. How is this known? The science of dendrochronology analyzes the growth rings of trees, identifying their age and even informing our understanding of climate patterns. Above 10,000 ft. elevation and east of the Sierra Nevada range, nutrient-poor alkaline soil is the only place where bristlecone pines can establish themselves with no other serious competitors. “Aging with Grace” will cover some of the scientific discoveries the bristlecone pine has been part of, how its environment shapes it, and share images that demonstrate the facets of their life and growth that make them one of California’s most iconic native species.

Tim Aston, a photographer and former Gunn High School biology teacher, grew up in Los Altos and currently lives in the Eastern Sierra. He has been photographing bristlecone pines for fifteen years, culminating in his new book, Branches in Time: A Photographic Study of the Great Basin Bristlecone Pine. When Tim was a kid, he borrowed Little Shop of Horrors from the Los Altos Library approximately 74 times.