Discover the quiet magic of Vancouver Island’s winter forests.
By Joanne Sasvari
We love the tranquility of a walk in the woods at this time of year, escaping the seasonal busy-ness to surround ourselves with the soft green fragrance, the gentle hush, the towering evergreen conifers of a coastal forest. If we’re lucky, as we amble along, we might find a branch, tossed by a winter wind and laden with cones, to add to a centrepiece or the wreath on our door.
Here on Vancouver Island, our conifers comprise several types of fir, as well as red or yellow cedar, Sitka spruce, western or mountain hemlock, western white pine and western yew. The most common of them is the Douglas fir, the tallest tree in the pine (Pinaceae) family, which is also sometimes known as a Douglas spruce, although it is not actually a true fir, pine or spruce tree.
What makes a conifer a conifer is, of course, the presence of cones, which can be big or small, hard or soft, male or female.
Male cones tend to be small and thin and form at the base of branches. They produce pollen — blame them for your springtime allergies and the yellow dust on your deck. The pollen is borne on the wind to fertilize the larger, more exposed, female cones. Once seeds develop, the female cones open up or disintegrate to release them; the seeds are then scattered by the wind or animals to form new trees, at least if they land in the right conditions.
Given their evergreen nature and prolific productivity, it’s not surprising that, throughout history and across cultures, pine cones have symbolized spiritual enlightenment, resurrection, eternal life and fertility. But to us, they’re simply a joyful addition to a festive table and a reminder of the peace to be found amid the evergreens.
