Berry Good!

Autumn is putting on a lovely show of berries in the butterfly gardens at MOSI. Not only are these berries lovely, but they provide some excellent food four our local birds and critters. Here’s a few photos of the autumnal cornucopia of berries and fruits currently festooned about the gardens.

	Yaupon Holly (Ilex vomitoria) is attractive to birds and squirrels, but not so much for humans. To humans holly berries are mildly toxic and may cause vomiting and/or diarrhea (check out the Latin name of this plant!) These trees are gorgeous when covered in their profuse red berries.
	Beauty Berry (Callicarpa americana) These gorgeous purple berries remain on the beauty berry well after all of its leaves have been dropped. These berries are very attractive to birds and can be a large part of their Fall diet. The fruits can also be made into a jam or syrup.
	Wild Coffee (Psychotria nervosa) Wild coffe is a Florida native with striking shiny leaves. These fruits seem to be a favorite of blue jays and cardinals. Early settlers in Florida brewed a coffee substitute drink from the seeds of this plant.
	Firebush (Hamelia patens) Although the red tinted foliage and brilliant orange trumpet flowers are fantastic in a garden, Firebush still has more to give. These berries start the same orange color as the flowers but ripen through red to a glossy black finish.
	Wax Myrtle (Myrica cerifera) are a favorite of squirrels who gnaw off the fruit laden branch tips and sit in the trees gorging themselves. When they finish they toss the branch tips down on the sidewalk. Such messy eaters! The waxy berries have a wonderful aroma.
	Coral Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) Coral Honeysuckle is a great cover for a garden trellis and its trumpet blooms are attractive to both butterflies and the ruby-throated hummingbird. The bright red berries are great food for songbirds!
	Red Bay (Persea borbonia) Red bay is a gorgeous small evergreen tree of the Southeast United States. When these fruits (drupe) are ripe they will be a lovely shiny blue color. This tree has deliciously aromatic leaves that can be substituted for the leaves of bay laurel (Laurus nobilis),