Life in the secret garden

Here's a closer look at the Mahonia japonica, which is one of my favorite things--especially this time of year. Red stems, blue berries, evergreen, with changing foilage, it really offers a lot in small package (about three by three feet. During Spring, when it blooms, the flowers aren't all that showy and there's no fragrance. But then, Spring has plenty of beauties competing for attention.