As fewer flowers are in evidence as December sets in we rely more on berries and seed heads to provide lots of interest. However, we also grow berrying shrubs and trees to help the birds through the harsh times of winter. Our resident blackbirds and thrushes, song and mistle, enjoy the nutritious berries early on in the winter but when the weather on the continent becomes harsh they are joined by their cousins, including redwing and fieldfare.
The first block of photos shows the black berries of Sarcococca confusa, a cotoneaster, Rosa glauca hips and one of our many Hypericum inodorum.
The next block of photos illustrates the deep glossy blue berries of Viburnum tinus with delicate red petioles alongside our native holly Ilex aquifolium and a lone hip of Rosa glauca.
Below in the first row are photographs of Malus ‘Adirondack’ sometimes referred to as Malus ‘Admiration’ plus rotting apples of Malus ‘Evereste’.
The next row of berry photos shows an Arum maculatum spike of berries just collapsed after a storm, an unripe hip of Rosa glauca followed by two pictures of Sorbus ‘Autumn Spire’.
Each year as our trees and shrubs mature they provide even more nutritious fruit for our avian friends.
greenbenchramblings 