Here's your brown things in nature fact of the day. When you think of a pine cone, you probably think of the brown, woody things on an evergreen tree. Did you know that those are the female cones and that there are MALE cones too? The male cones are smaller, softer, less impressive, and much less distinctive then the iconic female cones. You might not have ever noticed them. The male cones release pollen, which drifts into the air and eventually finds female cones. The photo shows both kinds. I learned something new today about cones. The state "flower" of Maine isn't a flower at all. It's the white pine cone!! It's the only state whose state flower isn't a flower. I guess they went with it because Maine is known as the pine tree state. #brown #brownweek #pinecones #natureclub

Posted by Mel Grosvenor at 2021-05-06 12:22:44 UTC