So I did an experiment, new Nature Totem, after about 8 days, small plants started around it, fig, apple, nut, etc. You have to start to water them, and after about 20 days or so, they mature.
I dropped the nature idol by water, and where I had plants growing outside of main base, in a clearing. Just checked and I would say, about 20 days after starting 17S, I had those plants all around it.
I think i figured out the new plants. Nut, Fig and Stinger will grow around the Nature Idol. Set it in a clearing and new plants will grow around it. That's what happened to my game.
Just noticed a pumpkin hanging in space from one of the trees that was cut down. Not respawning, I thought they would, otherwise I wouldn't have cut them down.
I am having a problem getting the present in the christmas, latest addition lisland 0.17.0 S, by the main entrance to the base, where the pond is. I cleared some of the trees, did that screw it up?