February 3, 2008 - Red Twigs Welcome to the Nature Notebook. Fiery red against a backdrop of snow or the stark grayness of winter woods, the twigs of red osier or red-stemmed dogwood are a striking sight. This midsized shrub grows best in lowland forests, wet meadows and wetland edges. The twigs turn red in autumn after this dogwood loses its leaves. Songbirds, grouse, rodents and bears eat this dogwood’s white berries; deer, rabbits, meadow voles and beavers browse its bark and twigs; many animals find shelter in its dense stands. Native Americans knew this shrub as Kinnikinnik. They used its bark for medicinal purposes and its pliable twigs to make baskets. Because it tolerates extremely cold temperatures, its range extends far north of Pennsylvania. Overlooked most of the year, this dogwood shines in the winter. This is PPL's naturalist, Jon Beam, with the Nature Notebook for WVIA.