right, the other left, and in time they are happily apart! The furrow has been slowly adjusted over time giving a competitive boost to the slower of the plants. This all minimizes digging. Digging is rarely a good policy in the rockery as it can destroy roots, cause unwanted bulb dispersal, and even muddle local soil chemistry. Many authors on the subject have stated that it is best to let newly cultivated or newly created rockeries settle in a bit before any serious planting. This does seem wise. Crevice gardening is the ultimate refinement of this stability principle. Panayoti's Axiom 1 appears climate-related mainly but there is an important twist that he hints at with the term "modified ecosystems:" that is; if you really want to grow it, don't give up without a fight!
Drying foliage provides its own appeal. The Colchicum leaves are a dramatic counterpoint to the Asclepias foliage and flowers.
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Rock Garden Quarterly Vol. 70 (3)
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Rock Garden Quarterly Summer 2012