A ubiquitous feature of the fall season, the humble cone is often found scattered beneath conifer branches.
The well-known woody cone with overlapping scales spiraling in the Fibonacci sequence is actually the female.
Beneath these scales are seeds that are wind-pollinated by the smaller, herbaceous male cones. While still attached to the tree or lying on the forest floor, cones open their scales during dry periods to disperse their seeds and close them again when wet, year after year.
It is an amazing cycle of reproduction that has ensured that the pine tree thrives all over the world.
When it comes to decorating the home – for the season or just because you love the bucolic look – the beauty of pine cones is that they’re free! And they are especially easy to buy this time of year – you can collect them by the bush while taking a walk through a forest.
Once you’ve collected a load of pine cones, you’ll want to clean and disinfect them first.