The most wintery decoration

Next time you're out walking amid the verdant majesty of a conifer forest, take a moment to consider the small but mighty tree cone. They're easy to find--any member of the pine family (pines, spruces, firs, cedars, larches, etc.) produces cones with scales that overlap each other like the scales of fish. The cones play a crucial role in the trees' lifecycle but have also served as a potent symbol for a variety of human cultures. In many traditions, they've been associated with fertility and enlightenment, appearing in art from the Mayans, Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans.
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