Winterberries, Henne boardwalk

My walking expeditions often take me by the edges of fresh-water wetlands—OK, they sometimes take me past said edges and into the marshland proper—and something that always catches my eye and camera is a particular species of holly called the Winterberry. Ilex verticillata is a noteworthy member of its genus because, unlike the more well-known hollies of Christmas fame, the Winterberry sheds its leaves every autumn. And when it does so, the shrub is noteworthy for another trait: its flamboyant fruit. These berries turn a lurid, stop-you-in-your-tracks red in the fall, and they're especially noticeable once the Winterberry has gone deciduous, which happened during the last week or so. I'm not the only traveler to spot these gems, of course. Many birds, Cardinals. Robins, and Cedar Waxwings, especially, dote on these berries, and the gourmands will often strip I. verticillata clean in no time. So show-time can be very short. My camera, my eyes, and I will take advantage of the spectacular displays for as long as possible. I doubt the berries will last until winter.