Its time for folks all over America to gather around a tree, natural or man-made, to celebrate the solstice and the various religious events associated with it. I, also, cannot resist the urge to bring a bit of natural fragrant green into our living room to provide a focus for our celebrations. Fortunately, there are thick patches of white pine seedlings, Pinus strobus, growing on the hillside behind our house. I trek out in the cold pouring rain to thin a volunteer from one of these patches. It looks good growing in the house across from the wood stove. I love its soft needles, its open branches for dangling decorations, and its fresh aroma.
