Countdown to spring! Part 10

Nice, though much redder than the catalog photo!

Yes, but not as light as my picture...hard to capture. I think kniphofia's photo best captures the dark velvet that is so hard to photo in sunlight.
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/153922

or Kell's

This message was edited Feb 22, 2010 9:13 AM

Nice.

A quick plug for a DG friend. As some of you know, Evey (blissfulgarden) started a website selling clems, and some other stuff. The site is now open! It's worth a look if only to see the great photos. ^_^

http://simplyclems.com/

Great photos on Evey's site, Victor!

Nice job Victor!!!

Thanks for info Victor. Very nice site, have it bookmarked.

nice photo's

4" pots sound small

Mine, from Evey, all took off so beautifully. I'm very pleased.

thx pirl - good to hear

I will be looking, thanks Victor for the heads up. Patti

Evey's packaging is superb - the best I've ever seen regardless of the source.

The plants are healthy and full of life.

Aw, thanks for the plug, everybody!

I noticed your note, Wha, about the 4" clems being small. I chose to sell 4" clems after purchasing and planting out a variety of sizes and comparing how much "bang for my buck" I received personally. I also can purchase the gallons via wholesale (and have on occasion purchased them wholesale for gift-giving and for special circumstances), but I just didn't feel they were the best choice for retail.

Clems have a longer propagation period than many plants, which is why the small ones are more expensive than many other plants in the same size. A well-rooted 4" clematis is 2+ years old and has already proven its viability. It will thrive in your garden with proper planting and the same general care you give your other plants. I purchased gallons from several very reputable vendors as well as quart size (5-1/2" size), 4", 3-1/2" and 2-1/2" plants last year so that I could judge their startup in person... a total of about 75 plants. A season later, the top growth for all was virtually the same except the 2-1/2" plants. I'm a very experienced gardener, but I did experience some mortality with the 2-1/2" ones. They just weren't ready for the garden.

Some people do prefer the gallons because they want a more instant "wow!" factor in their gardens... and, of course, that's a very valid reason to purchase the larger clems. For me, I wanted the versatility of planting the smaller root ball. Despite the old wives' tale, you do not have to prepare a hole that is 18" x 18" to plant a clem in a prepared garden.... that minimum is for container size! The roots will seek out soil and nutrients as the plant grows... and that minimum ability to spread must be at least 18". Many of my own clems were added to rose gardens, tucked in by the established plants. I didn't want to disturb the rootballs of my established plants, so gallons would not have been an appropriate choice. I also don't mind waiting an extra season for that "wow!" factor... though some of mine did produce a very nice bloom in their first season.

So, the next time you see a 4" clem at your local nursery or big box store (or even the very popular 3-1/2" Donahue's clem), don't shy away. If the plant is healthy and you provide proper planting, it should provide you with fine growth and enjoyment in your garden.

This message was edited Feb 22, 2010 10:38 AM

Remember me for the gallon gift-giving, Evey!! ^_^

And I was about to post that I hate those peanuts, but I did not know you were spying!!

I definitely will, Victor! Your photos "make" my site!!!

I will be getting in more of the Evisons in gallons in the summertime... the elusive cultivars thare are not offered in the smaller sizes due to the heavy demand. I'm offering those just to my established customers, but since you so graciously loaned your photos to me, you will definitely get an invitation for those too. Because there are so few licensed growers in the U.S., those cultivars are in VERY short supply, so I'm thrilled to get them!

Edited to add... Not spying. A friend sent me a link to the thread to let me know you had mentioned me! =) At least I use recycled peanuts... and you could recycle them yourself in packages you send. The plants are so much safer in the peanuts. They provide cushioning and also a level of insulation for the plants.

This message was edited Feb 22, 2010 10:47 AM

Hee hee - thanks! I wasn't trolling for freebies (yeah right!) ^_^

I have heard about the Evisons. Are they all they're cracked up to be? Debbie from Silver Star was telling me about them.

And I do agree your site is NOTHING without my pics. ^_^

Yep, they're all they are cracked up to be! I noticed Debbie is offering some this season too; they're a great addition to her product mix. I got in a shipment from one of my growers late in summer that were just breathtaking! Of course, Raymond Evison has been hybridizing for 40 years... so he's had just a *little* bit of practice in producing a beautiful bloom! ;-)

I like the fact that he has concentrated recently on cultivars that perform well in intimate settings. I'm a big fan of cultivars that will be mannerly alongside a hybrid tea rose rather than the thugs that try to choke the poor rose (or other host) to death! I also have lots of areas with posts and the like (porch, fence, carport, etc.), where the smaller cultivars in pots can train up just the post and add a punch of color and vertical interest.

That's good to hear since I plant 90% of my clems to grow through other 'host plants'.

I'll start a new thread soon - so two pics today!

hi evey - thanks for the information and pirl nice shots of the clems, they do look very healthy!

victor does not need any free plants:)

Now I have to go to her website

New thread:

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1077454/