As we were walking along the trail, these bright red berries caught my eye.  It is Strawberry bush, or Hearts a-bustin' with love.  Anyway, it is a species of euonymus:  Euonymus americanus.  Same genus as the burning bush, whose leaves are starting to show red.  

 

Even though "strawberry bush" sounds edible:  IT'S NOT.  Physicians once used the seeds as a tonic, laxative, diuretic and expectorant, which all sounds purgative in nature to me.  However modern science considers the fruit, seeds, and bark POISONOUS.  I am running with that, and just appreciate how pretty they are in the wild.  We even have some in our neighborhood.  Look, but don't touch.

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!