Pyracantha berries

In California the most common winter red berry is the Pyracantha, a member of the rose family, as is yesterday's Toyon.  Both of these plants grow on the road to The Ponds.

In spring the Pyracanthas begin an exceptional white flower display. While individual flowers are small, they typically cover the plant. Flowers are borne outside the dark evergreen foliage, so they stand out like white sparklers. Plants tend to flower even when young, and mature plants bloom very heavily as long as they are in a good site. Like several other plants of the rose family (Rosaceae), the flowers do not have a pleasant odor.

Later those thousands of small white flowers turn into brilliant orange to red pea-sized fruits. The fruit display, like the flower display, is exceptional and typically lasts until late winter when they are eaten by birds. In California we see drunken robins that have eaten the fermented berries.

Adapted from University of Arkansas Dept of Agriculture