Gardening Clematis, Bountiful Flowers on a Vine

H. F. Young

I am having a super Clematis year. As I have written of before, I took the jump and bought five clematis plants in one fell swoop last summer. For $3 a plant on the clearance rack at Home Depot I could not resist. I was very remiss and only permanently planted one of the five plants. The four other plants were watered, fed and cared for...but not permanently placed. They entwined each other, and spent the winter in a tray outside the kitchen, but all survived to thrive.

Many of the plants bloomed last summer. I noted and marked which plants were which colors while they

were blooming. Part of the $3 plant bargain package was that only one of the plants were marked by variety at purchase, though the display contained several different varieties for that bargain price. I had one bloom with a beautiful medium blue petals and green centers. Another bloomed white petals with red and green anthers in the center. The other three plants are still a mystery. The mystery should be answered some time this summer or fall because all are growing quite well and all have been permanently set in their long term homes. Two went to the same arbor, I'm hoping for a blue and white grown into each other happening. The third has been placed on a sunny lamp post, and it seems to be very happy so far. The universe blessedus with rain for the three days following planting. This should get things going nicely .

Variety H. F. Young, type 2 clematis

We have one more Clematis to plant and there is some discussion about how this should proceed. We have been tossing around putting a second one on the lamp post. I would love to place one up on the corner of a house. Then again I dread the possibility of it become an ant pathway to taking over my house. It just has to get in the ground! I'll share some photos of these Clematis' over the last year. They are a beautiful plant.