Clematis: Spring is here!, 1 by pirl

pirl wrote:
Lush is the right word, Marilyn. My Blue Light isn't lush but only two years old. Dr. Ruppel is lush this year!

Kjuddy - I'm so glad I'm not the only one. There was no reason for me to crowd the poor clematises but the hosta grew toward them instead of toward the sun and the silly columbine, which matches the clematis perfectly, looks so happy to sit on top of the hosta. Very circus like or like a pile of puppies.

Your first photo doesn't strike me as Jackmanii - the color is divine! Second photo does look like Jackmanii and if you feel there are roots there you could do air layering, an art I never mastered. It's heart warming when a storm doesn't totally pulverize a clematis and they are so much stronger than they appear to be. All the important parts are under the earth so I guess we shouldn't be surprised when they survive but it's a thrill to see they were "stronger than the storm" (New Jersey's ad campaign that I love).

Sure, citybus, they wanted to be reallyclose friends!

Moving plants is Mother Nature's way of keeping us out of trouble. Heaven knows we might be bank robbers or worse if we didn't have our mutual hobby!

Last year some digitalis decided they wanted the front spot in one border and got over 6' tall before I hacked them down but the seedlings keep on coming. They all seem to be fertile.

Don't the plants take up the fertilizer rather fast? I did look at my container and it's a "no name" brand. I was sure I could memorize it but tomorrow will get a photo. The middle number was 55 and I think I bought it at Walmart. I'll check the box for a sticker and hope it has the price as well. I know it wasn't high priced. Have you tried adding super triple phosphate to the soil to see the results using that - not that it's cheap.

See, now you might run the risk of being followed home by people who are curious about what you're doing! Careful! Try online and see what they offer.