"Winter
is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting and autumn a mosaic
of them all."
American
Bittersweet (Celastrus scandens) is a deciduous climbing vine that can be
found growing in dense thickets along the many fence rows throughout Brown
County. Bittersweet is probably best known for its clusters of yellowish orange
husks that separate in autumn to reveal bright scarlet berries. These berries
provide food for various songbirds, ruffed grouse, bobwhite quail, ringneck
pheasant and fox squirrel during the fall and winter months.
