A couple years ago a friend asked me what those yellow and red berries were.  I had to go over and look at them, and realized she was talking about Bittersweet.  I'm not sure this picture does it justice, but if you are heading up Five Forks Drive, look to the right just past Solitude and you'll see these yellow and red berries vining up in the trees.

 

Climbing Bittersweet, Celastrus scandens, is a woody, twining vine, and in the fall has beautiful berries.  The berries are red, inside a yellow capsule.  When they are mature, the yellow capsule splits, and the bright red berry can be seen.  I've seen the vines with berries for sale in florist shops and places that sell home decor.  They are often used in winter bouquets and mantle decorations. 

 

I'm not sure about stability or toxicity, so I've never used them for decorating; we have a cat.  But they are sure pretty growing in the woods.  Nature's decoration.  

 

Look for Bittersweet now, in its autumn splendor.

 

HAPPY FALL Y'ALL!!!