A native holly

The native population of winterberry holly (Ilex verticillata) stretches from Nova Scotia, south to Florida and west to Missouri. In the Midwest, winterberry hollies provide a lovely scene in winter, especially after a snow.. Sheryl took this photo in October 2009 at the bog in the rain when drops of moisture clung to the bright red berries. Copious American robins were dancing in the rain, snatching berries here and there. In winter, these berries will persist, if they have not been snatched by birds and other animals.

You can grow winterberry holly in your back yard, but make sure you get a female and a male plant; otherwise the plant will not flower nor produce these lovely berries.