Pine Cones and Acorns

 There are many that think that pine cones and acorns are very similar in a sense that they are both seeds of a tress and that they are an important part in the reproduction of their corresponding tree but this is only only partly true.

Pine cones are produced by coniferous trees as a part of their reproductive cycle. The pine cone is not a seed but it has scales that each contain two ovules that when fertilized, will develop into seeds. They are then released into the environment, their cone may have dropped from the tree, or displaced by the wind with the help of a little wing attached to the seed making it more aerodynamic.

      Unlike the pine cone, the acorn is the seed itself. The acorn is the fruit of an oak tree and has similar qualities to nuts  from other deciduous trees such as the chestnut from a chestnut tree both with smooth, brown surfaces. In comparison to the pine cone, acorns are dispersed in a similar matter; dropped onto the ground and left to be spread around by the surrounding environment.

 A couple days ago when our biology class went on a nature walk to gather our "materials" I witnessed a few things such as the fact that the pine cones were still attached to the tree and the acorns had already fallen off onto the ground. Just an observation. Anyways I came back with a branch, berries, leaves, and other goodies. 

So what do we make of these beautiful tree babies? How about a little winter themed, construction-paper-clad, sparrow bird thing from a single pine cone and a single acorn? Isn't it just great how you can take something from nature and change them so that they look like another nature thing? 

Head: Acorn
Body: Pine Cone

HA. But seriously this craft was really fun and easy to do, felt like good old times in elementary school!