So we're starting with whatever comes up whenever it comes up, and we'll see where that leads us.
When we first arrived in South America we were immediately aware of the importance of the pine cone in daily life. First of all, pine cones were everywhere. The most obvious ones lay on the roads and in the yards. But then we also saw bags of them for sale at the neighbourhood supermarkets and gas stations. And at the firewood sale-lots. Quickly we learned that, in a country where homes don't have central heat, fires play a key role in staying warm in winter, and pine cones themselves are the items used as kindling!
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| Brown Eyed Boy gathering pine cones for our family |
on the Handbook of Nature Study blog, I thought it might be interesting to take a closer look.I read the background information on pines and pine cones in Anna Botsford Comstock's book, Handbook of Nature Study, and gathered the family. Even My Dear Man came along on this one! We walked three blocks to the woods that have become a shortcut for us when we go visit friends, for we knew that there we would find an abundance of pines. I asked each person to gather one open and one closed cone as well as a bundle of needles.
Did you know that the topmost branch of a pine, the one that points straight up, is called the 'leader'? And did you know that the new branches form below the leader, in clusters of 3 or more, depending on the variety? That in itself didn't intrigue the children too much, but then I asked them to look for trees that had more than one leader, either two or three. When a certain insect lays its eggs at the top of the tree, in a little hole it has burrowed, the developing and hatching process kills the leader branch. But to compensate, the tree establishes a new leader from the new-growing branches at the top. Usually only one steps into the role, giving a new, off-centre leader, but occasionally two (and sometimes even three) will share the role.
After hearing that information, the children and I began seeing trees with lopsided or multiple leaders! This forest was filled with trees that gave evidence of a storied past!
The pine cones we took home, sketched in our nature journals, and then each child and I narrated about the walk and the cones. I was very pleased with the resulting drawings, especially since it has been many weeks since we've brought out our nature journals.
You mustn't abuse on using the pine cones as firewood, its contain resin, and get dirty the chimney if you do, you must use its only to start the fire, and you must collect the open ones, its burn better.
ReplyDeleteYour neighbour behind the fence
Jennifer, how wonderful to see a post filled with something that looks so much like my view! You've all done great work with your journals.
ReplyDeleteYour neighbour from the North.
I like your friendly neighbour behind the fence. So helpful to have someone who knows the "new" stuff! Thanks God for good neighbours!
ReplyDelete@ behind the fence: Thanks for the extra information; we will be careful.
ReplyDelete@ los cincos nomads: Thanks for the encouraging words - it does look somewhat like your view, doesn't it!
@ Cathie: Neighbours are great, and we do thank God for them. We are blessed in our home and barrio. :)
I would have never guessed you were in South America since your forest looks like ours here in Northern California. :)
ReplyDeleteGreat job on your pine observations and learning about the cones. Fabulous journals and such great jobs with detail.
Thank you so much for sharing your link with the OHC. I enjoyed reading about your study and look forward to your next one.
Jennifer, sometimes , when you put too wood in the fireplace (or too pine cones,paper,etc)the chimney can catch fire, and this is a dangerous situation. Other issue, when you start to use your fireplace next winter,you after must control that the chimney rotary "hat" works properly, it's very important this question because the "hat" stop the incoming wind and prevents the smoke reverse indoors.
ReplyDeleteYour neighbour behind the fence
Hey, Cathie, don't make me feel only as a helpful book information. I'm kidding, i'm glad because I can help this special neighbours to perform the new little challenges of their lives (like the chimney question). Although they prefer to keep certain distance, and i respect this, I want they to know, we are always here to help in everything they would need. Think this, God give you many things, one of this can be the people you find in your way, who knows ?
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