Cone Kiln, Landmark Forest Park, Carr-Bridge, by Aviemore, Scotland.

Fascinating...:o)

Here are some facts, I just found in a pic, from the infoboard:-

This particular cone kiln was in use from 1935 - 1975, and raised 200 million pine trees. In the year 1969, alone, it produced seeeds for 22 million trees. The closed cones were picked from Dec - March, and placed on the mesh-bottomed shelves in the kiln. The heat from fires lit at both sides of the entrance helped the cones open quickly, so that the seeds fell through the mesh into collecting troughs. These troughs were quickly covered over, to prevent the wind blowing away the seeds, or birds eating them. Amazingly simple!

great shot and info....we open ours in the oven....i think we.ve raised about twenty pine trees...only a few more and we'd be in competition...lol

Wow, you've actually done this, Sandra! Amazing to hear about this, Many Thanks! Well, you just need a few more 0s to take the lead, lol! Lovely, congratulations! :-)

i love watchin my little seedlings grow up. we have eucalyptus and pine from seeds . they are about fifteen foot tall now...we've planted over one hundred trees since we moved here....

Oh Sandra, you are doing such a gr8 job.with your trees !Will look forward to hearing and seeing more of this on your homepage, if you can.

By the way, 5 of your aeoniums are looking gr8 now - must post a pic soon. :-)

i'm glad they suviver the winter...mine are lookin sorry for themselves ...as i have been taking so many cuttings from them trying to rebuild my stocks....

I have planted mine in a chocolate-coloured bulb bowl, with a golden-coloured gravel mulch. They are mostly outdoors, but bring the bowl in on duller, cooler days. Good Luck with your stock of these amazing beauties! :-)

sounds a great colour combination..have i missed the pics?

No, haven't posted them yet - saving them for a "lean" pic time, lol! Will let you know, of course! :-)

i have loads of photos i havent had time to load..but then that will keep us busy in the winter...he he he

Won't it, lol! Hope to post my aeonium ones sooner. They fit in well with the "choc" theme! :-)

Well, must get to bed, am now officially on holiday for a week, but have an early morning"meeting" with 18th-19th century garden designer Humphry Repton, so to speak. more on this later. ;-)