Shihtzumom's Clematis 2011

All your clems are looking great Kathy!

Here is Barbara yesterday, June 2 - what happened to my monster clematis?

She is pictured with 2nd year Comtesse de Bouchaud

Semu is one of the best purples I have.

The color of Semu is like no others I have. A bird is building a nest in the tomato on top

Negritianka with Betty Corning

This is Huldine who is paired with Lady Betty Belfour. Still waiting to see that purple pop out. This pic was taken from my 2nd story window this morning.

Zoom

This is the start of the circle 2 or 3 years ago. Rebar is 4 feet long with chicken wire around the entire post

Thank you for sharing!
Lovely parade indeed.

Kathy, major clematis envy here.
How many do you have ? I have several and I am so happy when I have a several blooms on mine.
Oh to have that many bloom as you have.......

Thank you for the comments. I'm amazed myself. The soil here is amazing since it's a 1910 home and no one planted anything for many years apparently. Silver Star was the first and only place I purchased clematis for 3 years. Purchased some on clearance last year from box stores and ordered a few from Brushwood this year.

We all have a opinion on companies we prefer over the other. This year with my roses I learned lots with my EARLY opinion of my orders from Palatines and Pickering. Now that the growth begins I see the Pickering is catching up. Can't say that for the clematis companies.

I'm done with both roses and clematis because my yard is FULL. Thankfully, but I don't know what my next habit will be, almost sad

Your not done! you will be rearranging and replacing all the non-performers until it's just right. I know you.

Dan you are my good and evil side of gardening - always! The yard seriously is full. You're right about moving and changing a few things, painting a few trellis' like the black iron trellis for Romantika has to be white to show off the almost black flowers. That is one beefy, hardy clematis to grow so large in one season. I need to move one of my Miss Bateman's off of the white trellis who is planted near Honora who is slowly growing with verigated leaves - what's up with that? It's lacking something just don't know what. Or I could paint the trellis green or tan to show off the white flowers.

I hate moving them. It sets them back about a year, at least in my experience. I have no idea what is going on with Barbara Harrington. She has been 12 feet and stunning for 3 years and this year she's healthy, lots of stems but only 3 feet tall at best. The girl must have worn herself out. She has been amazing and a have a 2nd one just planted this spring on the sidewalk fence but I won't see much out of her until next year.

I move Warsaw Nike this spring because it had been a no show so I dug it up and replanted, still hiding out!

My picks from my collection:

I LOVE Rhapsody. That's a great denim blue that's planted with climbing iceberg but it hasn't bloomed yet. You can't get that color of blue from anything else that I've found.

For great purple that is vivid - just the right color I would go with Semu.

White would be John Huxtable - I have 2 and both are amazing. One is planted with 4th of July and pictured above, one is with Altissimo and both rose and clematis are not in a good spot but this clematis has TONS of buds just opening so I'll have a picture of that one soon. That rose hasn't done well for me but it should be moved.

Westerplatte is a great burgundy red with velvet flowers.

I'm not a fan of Abundance because the flowers are small and I like the larger flowers. Same with Minuet. They may get moved too.

See Dan, you've got me working already

Told ya.

I planted a lot of clematis under roses to grow up through them. I'm wondering if that is a good idea or not, not to many make it up through the rose. I think they need more sun to get going, If the rose doesn't have the naked feet it's not getting sun. Clematis need sun. I may have to rethink this and plant only three year old clematis or even older so they outgrow the rose. What is your thought?

I agree that planting roses and clematis together is a bad idea. They look great but it's hard to untangle a mess of thorns with clematis wrapped around them. As for sun, I don't think that's a problem for them but guess it depends on the density of your rose.

I have few perennials compared to 2 years ago. I have a few columbine that I love and some that are tall and look great in front of a climbing rose. Have a few coneflowers, hosta, shrubs and lavender. I tilled up the beds that I'm having trouble with and put zinnia seeds in those, along with peony poppies.

I'll review pictures and see how they unfold.

I agree with Shihtzumom, trying to train a clematis to grow within a rose, sounds like courting a funeral for one of them. :D Moreover, roses are more susceptible to disease.

I'm considering adding this http://www.gardenvines.com/shop/large-flowered-clematis-3/clematis-vyvyan-pennell-523.html to increase my small collection.

Not too much of a gardener here, but I found Clematis tolerates the soil we have here plus the full sun they're getting.
My favorite clematis is Niobe, very large and a deep wine color.

I have 2 Niobe which are young but doing ok. The color is nice. I should have pictures of Tie Dye today. That's a really cool clematis planted all by itself. Several more are popping open for pictures today.

I love this blue.....Rhapsody which was slow to grow but has finally made a good start this year.

Look at the beautiful blue bloom

Comtesse de Bouchaud and Barbara Harrington (who finally got going this year after 3 wonderful years of huge growth)

2nd John Huxtable with Altissimo (a rose that has not done well for me)

Can't get enough of tie dye

Another of Semu

Negritianka still blooming well. June 15 as are the others I added today.

Each and every one is gorgeous, Kathy.

You got me sold on Tie Dye.
Had gifted Comtesse to 2 DGers, think I'll get one for myself!
Thank you so much for taking your time to share these lovely clematis with us.

Heavens-
Tie Dye is amazing. It has amazing variations in each flower and has been a long bloomer for me in VA. I love it. Very different than any other clematis or rose I could find. It gets lots of attention when friends come over. Comtesse is such a great color. We all have clematis that really strike an impression with us and this is one that I would normally not pick from pictures online. Seeing it in my garden changes that opinion.

So many don't like white clematis - they want color. To me white is a color that makes so many spots pop with brightness. I love John Huxtable, Henri, Ice Blue (white, not blue) and Miss Bateman. If I had one "color" choice in my garden it would be white or Rhapsody for it's amazing denim blue. There are some great colors and so many purples and burgundy clematis but none stand out in my garden like whites.

So many greens, reds, and yellows come from roses, trees & shrubs. White roses just melt in heat when our VA temps hit 90s. White roses have a hard time since I buy cold hardy roses from Palatines. Making the white clematis a real joy to have amoung evergreens, somewhat shady spots, or a seating area/special spot.

Funny you should mention white...
I love my Arctic ^_^
Will have to ask "John Huxtable" to live with us!!

I am not aware there are so many varieties out there till I come to this thread. Wow!!!! You've certainly 'educated' this novice.

I like the way you display your clematis in the pictures, close ups are great, but to see the whole plant really shows you what you can expect from the clematis. And, how your growing them. Nice Job!

I have Rhapsody also, it is a great blue, and so far pretty prolific. I have mine paired with a miniature rose called Heather Sproul in a container, they look great together.

Really beautiful, Dan.

This message was edited Jun 17, 2011 11:09 AM

Thanks Dan. I like seeing the entire plant. A bloom just doesn't do it for anyone who may be interested in the plant. Rhapsody is a great addition to gardens. An amazing blue.

heavenscape
check out Ice Blue on HMF. Mine is new this year but I saw it in a garden had it was a MUST have - huge flowers. I think Silver Star is having a sale or planning one. John is one you really should try. White in the garden is so pretty and when they climb into trees or on evergreens it's really nice.

I've got a few clematis that I really don't like that well - Minuet is one that is not in a good spot because she's on the front fence and the flowers are so small, even with the abundent flowers, doesn't show up well. It needs to be closer to a sitting area or path. Same with Abundance.

I have a 2nd Romantika I put on the fence with Blue Angel in hopes of bringing that clematis more show power, just to pale blue on the white fence. That clematis has beefy stems and is a fast grower. I have one on a black tresslis too - what was I thinking? It's going to be a white trellis when I cut it back. The flowers are so dark you can't see it well on the black trellis until you're up on it.

http://www.clematis.hull.ac.uk/new-clemdetail.cfm?dbkey=2965
this is HMF pic of Ice Blue

http://www.silverstarvinery.com/vines.asp?letter=I
this ice blue on SSV's web site with her hand beside it

This message was edited Jun 17, 2011 9:33 AM

Kathy

Gorgeous as always. I moved my Negritanka to grow with my Comtesse - I am anxious to see the combination.

Dan - I would think that the combination of roses and clematis would depend on the types of roses. I put some clems in with New Dawn roses - so I don't see the clems overtaking the ND's. The ND's get to 20ft or more in height. Yes, I do have bare knees on those roses, but they are also on the north side of my house.

I too am seriously to the full point in my gardens. I keep telling DH that I need more land ^_^

Carolyn
I think the Negritanka and Comtesse will be stunning. Both are blooming at the same time here and that would be a beautiful combo.

I will be moving Abundance & Minuet but no idea where they would show up well or in what combo. I'm not thrilled with the tiny flowers.

Here is Comtesse de Bouchaud with Barbara Harrington

Rhapsody again - I just love the blue color on this one.

Semu still blooming like crazy June 21

Romantika

Voluceau

Etoile Violette by the sidewalk (one of 4 E.V.)
See here Post #8593550 before blooming