Here's your red things in nature fact of the day. Poison ivy starts out red, gives most people itchy red bumps, (just ask my friend @RED) and turns red again in the fall. I'm not trying to get you to love this plant, HOWEVER, it IS pretty in its red forms and it's actually a very beneficial food source for many animals. In the fall, poison ivy produces a white berry. This berry is abundant at a time when many plants are losing their flowers, berries, and leaves. Many birds eat these berries in the fall and winter. They help spread more poison ivy when they poop out the seeds. White-tailed deer, raccoons, and black bear are able to browse on this plant as well. They will eat the leaves, fruit, and even the stems. Oddly, it is NOT a true ivy, but rather a member of the cashew and pistachio family. Check out these pretty pics of it I took as it leafs out in the spring and turns red in the fall. #redweek #red #plants #poisonivy #natureclub

Posted by Mel Grosvenor at 2021-05-22 10:56:47 UTC