Fossil Conifers
Measuring
Constance marvelled at these amazing blobs!
Cone
They are intact cones from a tree that lived aeons ago!
Amber
…and these golden droplets are tiny blobs of fossilized sap!
Five needle pine
And here are clusters of five long pine needles! There are short three-needle clusters too, from a different species of tree. It is almost possible, with a little imagination, to feel like we are walking in the beautiful forest all those years ago.
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Quimper Hittys 
Honestly,I would feel like I died and went to heaven, opening up all of these ponderous treasures. Just amazing.
I am amazed too! Holding an intact 55 million year old pine cone in my hand is an unforgettable experience. Wrapping it well enough to stand a long road trip is a bit tricky!
Correction…I meant to type in wondrous treasures…
I thought that you were making a very funny conifer pun – there are lots of Ponderosa Pine trees in the hills around here, with long needles (though they are in bundles of three, not five)…thanks for making me laugh even inadvertently!
how amazing….that those are fossilized “pine” cones. thanks for sharing these wonders with us.
They are wondrous aren’t they? We feel so lucky, we are happy to share!