Spot of Gold: Japanese Barberry Lights a Shade Garden

In Shelly and Bill Coglizer's Northern California backyard, a single Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii 'Aurea') acts like a yellow headlight in a lush green shade garden. Designer Freeland Tanner complemented it with gold-tinged hostas (Hosta fluctuans 'Variegated'), golden Acorus gramineus 'Ogon', gold-leafed lysimachia, bright green tree ferns, golden Hinoki false cypress, and lady's-mantle. A decomposed-granite path leads to a weathered bench, anchoring the composition.

DESIGN: Freeland Tanner, Proscape Landscape Design, Yountville (707/226-2540)