The Magic Of Winterberry Days ...

“The holly and the ivy
When they are both full grown
Of all trees that are in the wood
The holly bears the crown.

O, the rising of the sun
And the running of the deer
The playing of the merry organ
Sweet singing in the choir.

The holly bears a blossom
As white as lily flowr’
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
To be our dear Saviour.

The holly bears a berry
As red as any blood
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
To do poor sinners good.

The holly bears a prickle
As sharp as any thorn
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
On Christmas Day in the morn.

The holly bears a bark
As bitter as the gall
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
For to redeem us all.

The holly and the ivy
When they are both full grown
Of all trees that are in the wood
The holly bears the crown.”

                                   ~ “The Holly & The Ivy”

                           ~ Traditional British Folk Carol

Beautiful Winterberry Holly is a magical bright burst of red coloring a gray December day at the Lehigh Gap Nature Center, just in time for Christmas!

In the shadow of the Kittatiny Ridge, also called Blue Mountain, The Lehigh Gap in Slatington, Pennsylvania, is a crossroads where the Lehigh Gap Nature Center’s trails connect two historic trails – the Appalachian Trail and the Delaware and Lehigh Heritage Corridor Trail (D&L Trail). 

The Appalachian Trail, a foot path, follows the ridge on both sides of the Lehigh Gap, running 1,245 miles south to Georgia and 930 miles north to Maine. Running from Wilkes-Barre to Bristol, the D&L Trail passes through the Lehigh and Delaware rivers and their canals in Pennsylvania.