Pinecones and Cacti

It's pretty well known that stories can be made by simply taking two characters, placing them in the same environment and playing the "what if" game.

Not all trees are the same. Let's think of these little critters as avatars of specific plants and work on their design and personality from there. Is the oak tree quiet and reserved? Does the maple whirl about gleefully like its seeds? Is the willow melancholy and the red wood rugged?

Imagine the taiga, a deep north boreal forest dominated by coniferous trees like spruces, larchs, firs and pines. Pico, a young Alaskan Pine (the classic Christmas tree) takes advantage of the spring time weather and stretches his limbs. Spontaneously, he comes across a new neighbor, a cherry blossom tree named Pru. Pru and Pico become fast friends and enjoy their time together but when winter hits, Pru's tree falls into icy dormancy and Pru disappears. Pico, unfamiliar with deciduous trees, believes that Pru has died and mourns her loss. In the thawing springtime, Pru reemerges in a storm of glorious cherry blossoms, even more resplendent than before. The two reunite and their friendship resumes. If we want a more melancholy ending, the story can end at the onset of winter where the two must say goodbye and Pico waits faithfully for Pru to reawaken once again.

Alternatively, we can go down to the Sonoran Desert, home of the great Saguaro Cactus. Out in the burning heat stands a solitary giant, a Saguaro nearly two hundred years of age. Her name is Guarola because she is stubborn and hardskinned. She has spent her entire life alone in the rugged wasteland and nears the end of her time on this earth. Just when she is ready to expire, however, Guarola notices that a cereus has taken root. The infant, Sirius, is terribly vulnerable however and prey to insects, birds, and hungry mammals. Guarola has to protect Sirius as best she can and teach Sirius the ways of the desert. When Sirius has learned everything Guarola has to offer, she passes away peacefully. Guarola has changed over the story and where her death might have been spiteful before, she now passes on peacefully knowing Sirius will continue. When night time comes, Sirius opens his first pink flower to the moonlight as a symbol of love for his tragic guardian.

These are just a few small possibilities. There are millions of trees and myriad more stories that can grow around the flora. If one finds my examples saccharine, I invite the reader to dig up some Audubon literature or a lousy Wikipedia page and discover the names and personalities of the real spirits living in the trees.