Fire and Ice Bittersweet 3 Hoodie

Fire and Ice. It's easy to spot the bright colour of Bittersweet on a snowy winter day. The contrast of ice on orange bittersweet attracted me to make this photograph. American Bittersweet is a perennial vine native to central and eastern North America. The flower are plain and uninteresting compared to the berries that follow. As the flowers fade orange-yellow capsules appear. In late fall the capsules open to show bright red berries inside. The berries and orange seed capsules remain on the plant well into winter, adding colour to snow covered landscapes. The crimson berry-like fruits are toxic to us mammals but highly sought after by birds. Here the red berries have been eaten, leaving the orange capsules on the vine.