Winter decorations

When the deciduous trees have shed their last leaves, when their glorious reds and yellows have faded to brown on the ground, the understory puts up its bright winter lights.

Red. Wild rose hips.

Yellow. Blackberry leaves. The trees protect the plants from the first chilly nights, but once those leaves have fallen, the blackberries start to lose theirs. Some of the green leaves will persist until the first hard frost.

White. Waxberries, aka snowberries. These shrubs have lost all their leaves, but the berries are tough and will last all winter.

Common snowberry is an important browse for deer, antelope, and Bighorn Sheep; use by elk and moose varies.  The berries are an important food for grouse, grosbeaks, robins and thrushes.  Bears also eat the fruit. (Native plants, PNW)

And yes, green. The grass and next spring's flower seedlings will stay green all winter, even under the snow.

Another mushroom, like the one above, tipped over, showing its gills.