The First Sign of Winter(Berries)

With the release of the Winter Berries Forever stamps, the U.S. Postal Service celebrates four of winter’s small yet vibrant offerings: the winterberry (Ilex verticillata), the juniper berry (Juniperus communis), the beautyberry (Callicarpa americana), and the soapberry (Sapindus saponaria).

Today, Acting Vice President of Pricing and Costing Steven Phelps will officiate the dedication ceremony at the Tulsa Botanic Garden in Tulsa, OK.

The winter months may seem like a time when nature’s bold imagery gets muted by cold temperatures and snowfall — but if you take a closer look you may just find some of the most beautiful plant growth of any season. Coming in an array of shapes, sizes and colors, winter berries provide bursts of life during the year’s coldest months. The stamp art features highly detailed botanical portraits of each plant that highlight the bold colors and rich textures of their berries.