Hello, fellow lovers of all things green. Last week, we spoke about Early Acorn Drop – Lessons of Letting Go. Acorns aren’t the only thing that seems to be dropping early. During a walk on Sunday on the Paulinskill Rail Trail, I meandered further and landed at our local airport. While offering water to my canine kid, I witnessed a little girl gathering fistfuls of pinecones, bringing her such happiness. Grand Norway spruces shade the outdoor eating space at the Runway Cafe.
I admired the girl’s fascination and dictated the scene as it was unfolding to share with you…
Norway Spruce Pinecones
As the little girl picks up pinecones, she puts them on a picnic bench where her mom sits with two other ladies. The gals are engaged in conversation while the child scouts for her treasures, collecting them with such happiness. She’s talking to herself as she approaches the pinecones. She finds one, then two. I hear the little girl’s voice counting them: three, four, five. Her hands are full. How can she hold any more; she is so adorable in her blue sundress, pink Crocs, and pigtails.
Now, the girl is sitting on the ground to reach another pinecone under a nearby picnic table. As she picks it up, others in her hand drop; she gathers them back up. Her fists are crammed with her treasures while she chatters to herself. She gets up and runs to place them on the bench beside her mom. There must be a dozen or so by now. Mom and her friends don’t seem to engage in the finds.
The pigtailed girl is heading off, prancing towards more. Mom calls for her.
“I’m looking for something,” the little girl says.
“We have to go,” Mom says in return.
Come, come, come, Jolee, come. Jolee, come, come, come on here. That’s me calling Jolee. She’s walking around the vast Norway Spruce I’m sitting under—the trunk, hiding her from view. Maybe she’s looking for pinecones to nibble on, but none are here. Perhaps the little girl snagged them all before we arrived.
Children remember these things.
My mind drifts to when I picked daffodils for my mom; I’d say I was about five. Mom and our neighbor were chatting away. The punchline is they were the neighbor’s daffodils. Mom was upset that I picked something not ours to pick. I thought I was doing something kind; it made me sad. Children remember such things.
Watching this little girl’s happiness unfold and her wonder about the pinecones under the trees brings joy. In his book Walden, Henry David Thoreau writes, “Every child begins the world again.” Isn’t that true?
They’re leaving now, and the little girl wants to take her pinecones. Her mom explains “that we can’t; they only allow you to take a few.”
The precious child accepts the logic, grasping one pinecone in her left hand and holding her mom’s hand in her right.
It’s understandable how the cycles of nature unfold are fascinating to a child. And to us, they often go unnoticed. But we can change that. May we all cherish our fistfuls of treasures, living with gratitude for the beautiful gifts in our lives. That is my wish for you.
There’s more to the story in the Garden Dilemmas Podcast (a soothing 10 minutes):
… including how Cornflowers are often mistaken for Bachelor Buttons and the origin of Cornflowers on the original Corning Ware plates. I hope you enjoy the story.
Mary Stone, owner of Stone Associates Landscape Design & Consulting.
As a Landscape Designer, I am grateful for the joy of helping others beautify their surroundings which often leads to sharing encouragement and life experiences. These relationships inspired my weekly column published in THE PRESS, 'Garden Dilemmas? Ask Mary', began in 2012.
I dream of growing the evolving community of readers into an interactive forum to share encouragement and support in Garden and Personal Recoveries -
seeking nature’s inspirations, stimulating growth, weeding undesirables, embracing the unexpected. Thank you for visiting! Mary
Lovely article!
As someone who still gathers random bits of nature, I so relate to this. My current find is just one wing of a swallowtail butterfly. It’s so amazing to get a good look at, since these creatures are always flying about in a big hurry.
My grandkids are the same, and a walk even around the neighborhood will always lead to pockets filled with special stones or seeds!
Thanks for the reminder to NOTICE. ❤️
Thank you for your kind words. I adore hearing your description of your walk arounds with your grandkids. Here’s to fistfuls and pockets full of treasures! :^)
… including how Cornflowers are often mistaken for Bachelor Buttons and the origin of Cornflowers on the original Corning Ware plates. I hope you enjoy the story.
Lovely article!
As someone who still gathers random bits of nature, I so relate to this. My current find is just one wing of a swallowtail butterfly. It’s so amazing to get a good look at, since these creatures are always flying about in a big hurry.
My grandkids are the same, and a walk even around the neighborhood will always lead to pockets filled with special stones or seeds!
Thanks for the reminder to NOTICE. ❤️
Thank you for your kind words. I adore hearing your description of your walk arounds with your grandkids. Here’s to fistfuls and pockets full of treasures! :^)