Best known for their hardiness and early white blooms, most of us find the American Dogwood enchanting any time of year.  But as autumn progresses and I've watched the Dogwoods change around my home, I think their magic this time of year has to be the most captivating.

Some of my intrigue comes undoubtedly from an artist's eye, my love for variety in color and shape.  These trees transform into a chaotic splash of color, from reddish-green to burnt orange, ending in a variety of unpredictable hues of yellow, brown and red.  And topping it all off, are those clusters of bright red berries, prominently displayed, and interspersed with a sprinkling of tiny, white buds.

But the magic goes even deeper than this, as a view it once with my eyes, a second time with my camera lens and sometimes, a third, through paint and brush.  The real magic lies in how it all fits together--rich seasonal berries, the perfect way each bird is adapted to feed on them, the amazing way color and texture camouflage and protect the bird while it feeds.

And in between and after, the neighborhood Tufted Titmice will enjoy these berries until the branches are picked clean.

For an added treat, visit my blog post showing how they sometimes hold these berries while they eat.