Never Too Early To Deck The Halls

Too early to get ready for Christmas? People say that every year when they walk into stores that are decked out for the holidays before Halloween has come and gone. But if you look outside, nature's sort of doing the same thing.

American holly trees are classic midwinter decorations because their evergreen branches are laden with red berries in winter. But the berries have been there all summer long. Our native hollies bloom in late spring with tiny little flowers you hardly notice – unless you're nearby on a day when the bees are pollinating; one of my doggies likes to stand under the hollies when the bees visit and listen to the buzz. After the bees pollinate them, the berries form, and hang there all summer – pretty much the same shade of green as the leaves. But now, very quickly as it gets colder, they'll turn yellow, then orange, and then you'll see the classic red berries along the boughs of holly – just waiting for you to deck the halls whenever you're ready.

Reported By: Phran Novelli, KYW Newsradio

(Photo by Phran Novelli)