Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Pine cone memories

 I know this pine forest well, because I used to live nearby. After a run of fine days, I knew that the ground under the pine trees would have dried out.
I also knew where the tall trees were,
 the ones that drop plenty of pine cones,
from their heads high up in the sky.
The smell of the pine needles brought back memories of playing in a pine plantation as a child. We treated our collections of cones as treasure, hid them in 'nests' in our dens, and sometimes raided each other's hoards. We didn't have many bought toys - almost none in fact, but nature gave us all the raw materials, which together with our vivid imaginations, resulted in hours and hours of happy play.
As I emerged from the pine trees with my bags full , I saw a buttercup tree in flower. Such a cascade of yellow blooming in autumn gave me a happy feeling, and also an idea.
In my next blog I will reveal how I used the flowers to brighten a child's day.

8 comments:

Hotly Spiced said...

How beautiful. I used to play with pine cones too. I just loved wandering through forests on the hunt for pine cones. And buttercups! I think I used to eat them! xx

Juliet said...

Hi Charlie, what a special childhood experience that is. And eating buttercups! Your lively interest in food began young!

lifeonthecutoff said...

I can't wait to see what you did with those flowers, Juliet. I still collect pine cones as I wander about. I love their scent and feel and wonderment.

Juliet said...

Penny, nice to have you back in blogland. You will find out tomorrow, in my next post. Yes, don't pine cones smell so good.

Lynley said...

Ahhh pine-coning. I love that activity and the smell of warm, dry pine needles under foot. It was always fun to find the helicopter seeds inside the cones once they cracked open.

A fire banked up with pine cones is fiercely hot and so satisfying to watch.

Juliet said...

Lynley, nice to know that you too enjoy collecting and burning pine cones. If it's cool enough this weekend, I'll be throwing them on to the fire at the bach. Satisfying to watch - yes!

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Juliet .. love your pine forest - and pine cones for decorations - or playtimes as kids .. then that buttercup tree - beautiful .. cheers Hilary

Juliet said...

Hi Hilary, yes aren't pine forests great.