Pine O' Mine: A Virginia Pine's Journey from Gift to Legacy

In 1999, my mother-in-law Lois Given pointed out a 15-inch pine seedling struggling in a tight spot behind her shed near Seaford, Delaware. She knew my love for trees and urged me to adopt it. That "poor little evergreen" became a living legacy.

Lois and her husband Pop-pop lived at the edge of woods along the Nanticoke River. Pop-pop rescued dogwoods from the understory; we grandchildren helped pick strawberries and weed—tossing aside countless pine and oak seedlings. But this one pine behind the shed caught Lois's eye.

She gave me a bucket and shovel. I dug a circular trench, lifted the root ball, and transported my precious cargo home. I planted it near a row of young Eastern Red Cedars in my spacious backyard. The pine recovered, thrived, and doubled in size—establishing itself like a duck to water.

Over the next decade, both cedars and pine grew tall. Curious about my pine's identity, I asked on the Dave's Garden Trees, Shrubs, and Conifers Forum. It was Pinus virginiana—Virginia Pine.

Research revealed remarkable history: Cherokee medicinal uses, and a record height of 121 feet. In my yard, sparrows, blue jays, mockingbirds, and juncos love it—along with countless other creatures.

Many websites dismiss Virginia Pine as "scrubby," "untidy," and having "no winter interest." I beg to differ. Its broad conical form lets sunlight filter through, illuminating winter birds on its branches. Its irregular branching isn't a flaw—it's character.

But the real reason mine is the most beautiful specimen on the East Coast? It was a gift from Lois Given, "Mom-mom," who passed in 2009. Her spirit lives on in my memory; her Virginia Pine will grace my yard all my days.

Photos from author's collection. (Editor's Note: Originally published date not specified.)