Yes

yes..

had a row of 20 sylvestrus ... and one year.. bam.. all on one day ..

there was little subtle about it ... and it took me hours to figure out what was going on ...

i might speculate it was a mast year for cones.. if thats the right term for conifers ...

ken

The tree was laden with cones, and it has been unseasonably warm & dry over the past month, which might be a factor. In any case, it was interesting to experience. Has anyone experienced it with conifers other than pines?

I haven't but wonder if conifers with serotinous cones are more apt to do that?

Bill, I thought the same thing. I've spent a lot of time around pine trees, but have never experienced this before. I can't help but think the conditions were perfect for this to happen, where the opening of cones was so audibly apparent. Whatever the explanation, it was interesting to experience.

maackia,

possibly the noise is the cone sort of 'kicking' the seed out? Interesting.

It could be, but I’m guessing it’s the the cone scale drying and shrinking back. I’m not a botanist, and that’s probably not the most accurate way to describe it, but I have to believe it’s the woody scale pulling back to let the seed release. I’m sticking with that theory. :)

Sometimes we're just in the right place at the right time!
Great thread, really interesting!

I have never seen Coulter Pine growing wild, but it must be quite a sight to watch those giant cones come crashing down. A conifer hardhat zone! :)