Rain On Virginia Pine

April 26, 2026

Oh precious rain. A little bit came down yesterday. Almost a third of an inch. Almost. Not nearly enough but . . .

These are male pollen cones of Virginia Pine (Pinus virginiana). Usually on the lower branches of the tree, while the female cones, the ones that you think of as pine cones, are usually on the higher branches of the tree. These pollen cones produce large amounts of pollen, carried by the wind to fertilize female pine cones. This pollen falls in clouds of “dust” that coats everything from March to May.

Both Pine and Oak pollen, a big problem for allergy sufferers. But when it rains the pollen settles for a bit. I’m hoping for more rain. Things are much too dry.

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Published by

Brenda Clements Jones

Brenda is a certified Virginia Master Naturalist, a Habitat Defender for Shenandoah National Park, and a devoted fan of Mother Nature. She lives in a cabin in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Shenandoah National Park, and hikes up to the higher elevations of her mountain often to see what nature is up to. Her constant hiking companion is a camera that captures nature as it unfolds through the seasons. It’s her goal to share the natural world around her through her photographs.