January | 2014 | Clematis in Seattle

An Early Foray into the Garden

January 18, 2014 at 9:17 pm (clematisinseattle)
Tags: clematis guernsey cream, Clematis Jacqueline du Pre, Clematis Proteus

New Young Bud on Clematis Guernsey Cream

Cherry blossoms greeted my flower-hungry eyes the other day as I was driving home!

Encouraged, I made a foray into the garden this afternoon to take a serious look around at the clematis. I had been out there a few times already to perform early garden clean-up chores — like removing brown slime, cutting back the old leaves on hellebores, and winter pruning small trees and shrubs. But I hadn’t really checked on the clematis yet.

So far this winter, Seattle has been spared the brutal cold and heavy snows that so much of the US has experienced. When I took a close look at some of the clematis today, I was thrilled to see that our mild weather had emboldened many of the spring-bloomers (especially Pruning Group 2) to bud up already — seemingly much earlier than usual. Woo hoo! Time for me to get pruning! My clems need me.

Clematis Jacqueline du Pre (I think — there are several clematis in this area)

Clematis Proteus

Then there are the forlorn-looking clematis that I decided to grow on in pots another year. Had to — I was wiped out after planting 24 clematis last fall! I think I’ve lost track of where I’ve planted them. Durn. I have to be sure to get each and every one of them on the new drip system. I hope I can locate them all and get them straightened out. Oh, lordy, I’ve already ordered three more!

There’s no hope for me.

Unplanted Clematis

My poor little seedlings need my TLC, too.

Seedlings needing attention.

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December’s Clematis of the Month

January 9, 2014 at 6:33 pm (Clematis of the Month, clematisinseattle)
Tags: Brushwood Nursery, International Clematis Society

Lovely little 100-year-old Nippon clematis vase found on Ebay.

No one will be surprised to learn that no clematis bloomed in my garden in December. None, nada, nichts. In fact, only a very few had any green leaves. Undaunted, I routed around on Ebay to find my December Clematis of the month — the beautiful lavender clematis on the lovely little Nippon vase on the left!

Unfortunately, I don’t know what clematis is meant to be represented. If it is based on a real clematis, it would have to be one that was available in Japan in the early 1900s. It was probably painted from the imagination of the artist, since the center is not quite right for clematis.

The 2012 journal of the International Clematis Society, Clematis International 2012, had a interesting article by Ken Woolfenden about all the wonderful clematis memorabilia he and his wife Fiona have collected. Over the years, I too have collected several pieces, mostly small plates with hand-painted clematis on them — see photos below.

Garden Clematis

Can you tell I’m suffering from clematis deprivation? Sigh. In a few brief forays out into the garden over the past few days, I’ve seen very small vegetative buds on some of my spring blooming clematis. I had to look really close to see them, but they are definitely there! No buds on my winter bloomers, though (C. napaulensis and C. cirrhosa).

Brushwood Nursery is having a 15% off sale this week, so I caved and ordered three more clematis (which I need like a hole in the head). I must not buy any more clematis. I must not buy any more clematis. I must not buy any more clematis. Hmmm, maybe I should plant up some of the clematis seeds I have in a jar in the fridge.

A Few Clematis Plates