Thin But Productive Today

I took a little time today to take some pictures of our small clematis collection (85). This Clematis x durandii really stood out as a strong bloomer. Clematis' are actually very durable vines in our landscapes. They benefit from adequate support, rich soil and occasional fertilizer. There are some differences on when to cut them back as it relates to their flowering. We cut most of ours back in early winter down to 12" or so. They've become a nice addition to our perimeter fence. Remember to garden in three dimensions (think vertically), not just two!

Tuesdays are a bit thin for grounds staff which makes it a challenge to take care of mowing and watering. We were fortunate to have Kay, Ron, Bev, Mary, Roy and Heidi come in to help plant. With our parking lot being resurfaced, traffic (vehicular and human) has been rerouted through our east gate which became very congested today when a tour bus pulled in to unload there as well! We all made it thru the day and will have the lot back at the end of the week. It's an amazing process to watch although the contractors accidentally broke one of our larger planters out front. Below is another clematis called 'Multi-Blue'. The metallic violet, pink and blue overtones are mesmerizing. I have this one at home and like it a lot. 'Rooguchi' at the bottom is one of the hottest clematis' on the market. Originally bred in Japan for use in tea ceremonies, 'Rooguchi' is definitely beautiful. Where are your vertical opportunities for vines?