Monday, January 2, 2012

Winterberry still red

This is the mildest winter we've had since I moved to Vermont about 26 years ago.  Usually the berries of Ilex verticillata turn reddish brown just before Christmas and this year they still are bright red.  I have guessed that at zero degrees ferenheit they turn and that therefore it hasn't been quite that cold yet.  Tonight will probably be the night.