During the seedling lifting season each spring, it has been a tradition at the Griffith Nursery to offer inspirational words and thoughts to the staff on a dry erase board in the employee break room. Drawing on witticisms from famous athletes, authors, political figures, and comedians seems to provide a bit of levity during an often stressful time.

This past spring, one of the quotations struck a chord with me, as it put a much-maligned tree species into a different perspective:

 “The jack pine grows to any shape that suits the light, suits the winds, suits itself.”

~ Milton Acorn

Find the light. Lean into the wind. Survive. Thrive. Be the jack pine!

By Jeremiah Auer, jeremiah.auer@wisconsin.gov, (715) 424-3700