Gardening and Gardens

"It's bittersweet, more sweet than bitter, bitter than sweet" Those are the lyrics to the 1993 song "Bittersweet" by Big Head Todd and the Monsters. I find myself unconsciously singing this song every time I come across this vine full of it's berries. Yes, it is invasive, but this time of year, the plant can't be beat for autumn splendor.  The foliage is a golden yellow and the orange seed pods break open to reveal a red berry inside.  This highly invasive vine is Celastrus orbiculatus , or Oriental Bittersweet vine. It has been known to strangle host plants by twining itself over and around anything it comes in contact with.  Not something you'd want growing in your backyard, but I think it can be appreciated in a natural setting or along the fence on the side of the road. This bittersweet vine should not be confused with the native, non-invasive American bittersweet vine. One way to distinguish the two is to look at the berries...

Jack-o-lanterns, bats, ghosts and goblins... Halloween is here! Nothing says Halloween to me like the color orange. Somehow this vibrant color maintains its vigor throughout the entire month of October - like the last rays of sun from summer. By November, the days are shorter, the tree foliage is nearly gone and everything begins to look more brown. So in honor of the last day of October and Halloween, I went on a quest around the neighborhood to find all things orange: Orange Viola flowers  Orange Pyracantha berries Orange Gerbera Daisy flowers Orange Bittersweet berries Orange-yellow Gourds And of course, what would Halloween be without a cheery Jack-o-Lantern to wish everyone a very Happy Halloween! For more Halloween fun, be sure to check out my other spooky Halloween post on some very ghoulish plants. Mwahahahah!