Colorful Sitka spruce cones peek out among the dense green boughs, signaling the tree’s current season of growth and reproduction. The range of hues—from pale green to rich brown—marks different stages of cone development, providing a glimpse into how this coastal conifer produces and disperses seeds. Sitka spruce are towering, long-lived trees that dominate many coastal forests of the Pacific Northwest and Alaska, thriving in moist, temperate climates and often forming dense stands along shorelines. Their cones play a crucial role in the forest ecosystem, providing seeds for birds, small mammals, and other wildlife, while the trees themselves stabilize soils, buffer coastlines, and support a rich understory of plants and fungi. Observing the cones up close reveals not only the reproductive cycle of the spruce but also the intricate ecological connections that sustain these iconic coastal forests. Photographer: Sean Neilson