December 2, 2009

As the sun, now skulking way south, sinks in the afternoon, it highlights the native snowberry bushes that seem to have taken over all around the edge of our seaside lawn. The clusters of creamy white berries are almost like tree ornaments as they glow in the light. This year's crop is perhaps the best we've ever seen, as the two pictures should show. Symphoricarpos albus is the scientific name of the plant, and it belongs to the honeysuckle family (Caprifoliaceae).  As the winter progresses, somebody eats the berries - we aren't sure who, but it's almost certainly the many small birds that live here year round dark-eyed juncos, house finches, sparrows, robins... So a Christmas ornament becomes a New Year food bank. Nice thought.

Birthday blog tomorrow
Love
Bryce