I have one clematis in my garden currently, and it has proven itself to be the most fantastic ambassador for the genus that I am now plotting the location of at least 6 new varieties. I had always been under the impression that clematis were particularly difficult to establish, but this large purple beauty is proving my assumptions wrong. Mind you, I have obeyed the rules of leaving well alone and not disturbing the roots. In fact, I don't cut back the dead branches either - I just leave it to do it's thing. I'm thinking of trying some of the new varieties sprawling up into my boughs of my orchard fruit trees - a romantic vision of orchard gorgeousness!
It's funny how my garden journey keeps being triggered by memory - and searching through my folios the other day, I found a water-colour painting that I did in a botanical painting course at the English Gardening School based at the Chelsea Physic Garden in London. What dim and distant images must have been in play when I chose my purple giant - to bring back memories of that moment in time.
The bumblebees love the large plate-sized flowers and hang out on them for hours. I'm going to spend many glorious hours deciding on my new range of clematis from Yaku nursery in Taranaki - a specialist clematis grower and supplier.
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