So, based on the widely observed bumper crop of pine cones this past fall, it's clear 2023 was a mast year for the pines made even more apparent by the overabundance of shredded cone debris on ...

But the high pine cone volume contributing to the phenomenon covering the ground now is expected to be fleeting. “Most likely, people will see fewer white pine cones next fall,” Livingston said.

Cones must be from red pines. Red pines have craggy, reddish bark and 4- to 6-inch needles that grow in pairs. Scotch and Austrian pine cones will not be accepted. Cones should be picked directly ...