There are conflicting reports about this year’s appearance of Winterberries: Some have plentiful shrubs and others haven’t seen a single berry. We have a few on our plants. Local legend has it that bountiful Winterberries mean a tough winter and few mean a mild one. These little red berries are a major ingredient in nature’s winter survival kit for 49 species of birds, deer, raccoons, and white-footed mice. The wildlife tend to visit this deciduous holly bush later in the winter because its berries are less nutritious than other winter foods. In case you haven’t seen any this year, here are images from last year’s bumper crop.
(Brooklin, Maine)