South Carolina - Huntington Beach State Park

While walking around Huntington Beach State Park Sunday, April 25th I came across these neat little plants growing near the birdhouses I like to check out.  All the birdhouses had their viewing doors screwed shut to prevent anyone from peeking in.  I suppose this is so the baby birds don't fall out when you open the doors to check on their progress.  They are pretty big now and it's not a good idea to disturb them now.  We decided to see some of the new plant life in the park.  I have no idea what this is and couldn't find anyone to ask.  Until you get up close to them they look like pine cones, but as you can see, they are growing in the ground.  I thought maybe someone here on Gather would recognize them and tell me something about them.

At this stage of growth they are about 8" or so.  The trees in the surrounding area are pines.  That's all the information I can actually give you.  I've never noticed them before.