Few plants provide as much wintertime cheer as the shrubby dogwoods – redtwig, yellowtwig or best of all, red, orange and yellow twig – aren’t they glorious? There’s nothing subtle or retiring about these plants; they blaze, especially when you put them against a dark backdrop.

In the photo above the dogwoods show up more brightly on the right where they are backed by a dark green ceanothus while those on the left appear more subdued against the paler green of heavenly bamboo (Nandina domestica). Read more »