Beautyberry

In late summer/early fall the Beautyberry glows.  It's nearly impossible to capture the vibrant color of the berries.  Imagine this picture but more intense.

 

Beautyberry

The Beautyberry bushes were loaded.

 

Beautyberry

The beautyberries are in full color.

(see here)

 

Berries

I've never been able to capture the exact color of the berries on the American Beautyberry bush.  They almost glow with purple.

See here.

Supposedly the Poke weed plant is poisonous, with the berries being especially toxic.  The forest service website then says they're an important food source for birds.  How does that work?

See here.

 

Beauty

These aren't flowers, they're the berries on an American Beautyberry bush.  (see here) The berries are actually more brilliant than the picture shows, it's nearly impossible to pick up the rich purple color. It's an understory shrub native to the southeastern USA and it lives up to its name!

Coral or fungus?

Looking under a bush, my husband said, "Look, there's a piece of coral."  Hmmm, under a bush in the park?  Well it turned out to be a fungus.  I think it is a Cauliflower Mushroom.  Supposedly, they are edible, but I wouldn't try it.

American Beautyberry

I have been trying to get a good picture of these purple berry bushes for weeks.  They almost glow with their purple color.  The camera just won't pick up the same color as my eye.  This picture is OK, but still doesn't do justice to the vibrant color.  Their common name is American Beautyberry, and indeed they are! Here's a link to information.