Pine Cones

While walking Vincent on a warm winter's day, I heard popping sounds coming from the pine tree nearby. Stepping over, I expected to see birds or squirrels playing in the tree. Instead, I soon realized it to be the tree itself. Actually, the pine cones.

A friend of mine was strolling by and confirmed I wasn’t hearing things. After researching, it seems that on warm days, the pine cone sap enclosure begins to loosen, allowing the cones to pop open, and begin the process of drying the seeds within.

It amazes me how nature knows what to do on its own, while we humans seem to require direction all the time.