Pine: A Tree of Many Blessings
Even though my favorite season of the year is Summer, as I have written before my favorite time of the year is Christmas especially the decorations. One of the most popular decorative supplies during this time is the pine tree. Pine trees are used for wreaths, swags, scents, and of course for the Christmas Tree.
Pine trees are probably in the top ten of the most well-known trees in the world with most people thinking of them first when the word “forest” is used. Pine trees are extremely important to keeping the ecosystem healthy by providing shelter and food for wildlife. The dense foliage helps to provide protection from the sun, inclement weather and predators that pose a threat to some wildlife populations. They are one of the best windbreak trees for agricultural needs. They have a fast growth rate and an average height between 50 and 80 feet tall. Pine trees are one of the best aids against soil erosion with pine tree roots working to hold the soil in place.
They are incredibly hardy and can survive and thrive in many different soil conditions.
Their needles that fall to cover the forest floor help to prevent soil erosion and add nutrients back into the soil. The seeds that pine trees produce are rich in nutrients and act as an important resource in many animals’ diets, especially birds and squirrels. Pollinators like ladybugs and other beetles find refuge in pinecones during winter.
According to the Arbor Day website, few trees have had a more immediate or profound impact on our American forefathers. The vast pine forests that met the first settlers provided lumber for shelter and masts for sailing ships. Native Americans, First Nations peoples, and early settlers found medicinal uses for pine bark, needles, and resin. Pine needle tea was a source of Vitamin C for the early settlers.
Pine Gum was a popular caulk or sealant for their houses and canoes. Pioneers travelling westward would plant “coffin pines” on their new land, often in pairs for husband and wife, since the hardwood forests that were native to these new areas were less workable than the softer pine. In more modern times, pine cemetery blankets for our loved one’s gravesites are extremely popular. Their dense green foliage often accented with the striking contrast of red poinsettias can provide a sense of spiritual peace to some.
Pine has been considered an important part of many sacred rituals or spiritual beliefs for populations around the world in the past as well as the present. Many North American tribes used pine incense for sacred offerings, cleansing the air, and smudging during ceremonies to uplift energy and sharpen the mind and senses. Pine has been used in herbal steam and incense to relieve respiratory problems. Pine sap salve has been used for wound healing. Pine nuts are full of vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats. Like many plants, the health benefits have been known for generations but modern toxins can be a problem so it is best to be very cautious.
One of the most potent benefits of the pine is its aroma. Its scent represents cleanliness. I remember smell of the original Pine-sol cleaner when my mom would mop the floor. Pine imparts the idea of clean and disinfected.
It is still one of the most popular scents used in cleaning products. In studies, pine’s aroma has been shown to relieve stress, anxiety, fatigue and promote mental clarity. Cultures around the globe have used the smell of pine and the tree parts themselves for generations. Beautiful wreaths and swags are popular especially during the winter months so the aroma of pine is carried throughout the house. Scandinavian and Northern European cultures considered the pine a sacred tree. Pine tree forests throughout Europe were the birthplace of fairytales and legends.
Cultures in the Orient consider the pine as good luck and symbol of both new beginnings and longevity.
Native pine forests of the western United States were the foundation of the lumber industry. Modern day lumber industries are conscious of the need to protect this vital resource and create conservation plans to address the continuing health of our forests.
Forest managers not only judge the number of trees in the stand but also are noting the straw (needles) on the ground cover. The industry has realized that the use of pine needles as mulch is extremely beneficial to the soil and popular among gardeners.
However, the amount of needle straw must be controlled so the forest floor will not suffer from too much of the straw removed.
The pine tree has offered the world many blessings from beautiful forests to lovely aromas, from healing medicine to spiritual guidance, and from food to building supplies to protect us and aid in our travels. Few things can give us such comforting nostalgia as the Pine.