Winter berries in your Clark County, WA garden - for the birds!

One of the most beautiful sights in fall and winter are the white and red berries that brighten up the landscape in Clark County. After all, this time of the year is often  dark and dreary on the western side of the mountains.

Many species of birds are also appreciative of the berries, but for a different reason. While they can be toxic for humans, the berries are a good food source for our feathered friends when insect populations are down.

Shrubs with red berries to plant in your Clark County garden - for the birds!

• Winterberry - Actually a native holly, it loses its leaves in the fall to reveal bright red berries. Berries glow in snow covered landscapes to attract hungry birds and provide a seasonal splash of color.
• American Cranberry Bush - Northwest native with bright red berries. Its thorns make it a great hedge - keeping out cats and raccoons - making it safer for birds.
• Kinnikinnick -  ( love the name) A great native plant for carpeting the ground. Fall and winter berries are eaten by various ground birds.
• 
Cotoneaster - This shrub comes in many varieties and sizes - the best part, red berry cheer during winter. ( Note - generally not a favorite of birds until food sources are scarce.)
• Choke Berry - ( note the fruit is quite bitter) Birds will eat these berries only when all other food sources are exhausted. ( Plant if you want fall and winter color to last.)

Snowberries - the shrub with white fruit that dots Clark County gardens in fall and winter months - for the birds!

Savvy gardeners are wise to use native snowberries in their naturalized landscapes. The shrub blooms small pink and white bell-shaped flowers in the spring and summer, ( bees love them) and birds flock to their snow-white berries in fall and winter.

Winter berries aren’t just eaten by birds - birds help ensure their propogation.

Frugivores, animals that eat fruits, provide an essential role. Since birds have rapid and efficient digestive systems, they act as a seed-dispensers ensuring the reproduction of the plants they nibble from.

Birds play a big part of the delicate balance of nature. There is a strong connection between all living things. Therefore, the removal of even the smallest form of life may in  time threatens the entire eco-structure.

Imagine a life without the sound and color of birds - listening and watching wild birds is often a pleasent diversion from the pressures of our daily lifestyles. In short, they provide an intangible value and enrich our world.

We can help ensure their longevity by providing conditions of clean air, food and habitat.  Yes, providing winter berries brings color, food, activity and aesthetic value to the fall and winter garden in Clark County, WA - for the birds!