the season to be jolly

You really don't need ornaments to decorate the trees at this time of year because nature - or "Mother Nature", as my mother always referred to it - does the trick for you. I was struck when I was walking through the park today at just how un-bare the trees are in December. Apart from dead leaves, which can in themselves be quite beautiful, there were interesting dried pods, pine cones, birds nests and even the odd pink blossom (deceived by global warming into thinking it was spring) all prettying up the naked branches. But for holiday purposes, the berries take the prize. Bright red, yellow and purple in abundance like so many tiny Christmas balls and then, of course, the two solitary holly berries - rightful royalty of the season - sitting proudly beside their emblematic leaves.