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Once in a while things turn out in the garden the way they were planned.  When the bare area under the Olive tree was planted up four years ago, I envisioned the pink midwinter blooms of the Bergenia crassifolia poking up over the stone wall and contrasting nicely with the gray green leaves of the  Euphorbia characias.  Bergenia crassifolia,  is also know as leather bergenia due to its thick leaves.  It is a native to Siberia and Mongolia and reaches up to 12 inches tall with a spread of 1 to 1 1/2 feet. It has evergreen leaves that are oblong or round with each leaf being shallowly toothed on its edges.  The five-petaled flowers are ¾ inch wide, pink to purplish, and sit atop arching 10-18 inch long stalks.   Its leaves rise from a perennial rootstock.  Although purported to be drought tolerant once established, I find it necessary to give it a good watering once a week during the hottest part of the summer.  The plant is easily propagated in the spring and fall by division.