Years ago, I bought a dozen or so variegated monkey grass plants -- planted them in front of two burning bushes -- planted in front of a birch tree. I thought the variety of colors and textures would be striking. And they were -- for awhile. Pretty soon the burning bushes covered up the trunks and therefore the bark of the birch tree (which is the whole point of a birch tree) -- and the variegated monkey grass turned into plain green monkey grass. My exotic focal point in the yard turned very bland.
The best plans go awry -- and plants cannot be counted upon to remain true to form.
