I thought I'd go around my backyard counter-clockwise and show you what I've got out there so far this year. The first is C. Huldine; it grew rather nicely last year, but died back so early that I thought I'd lost it - to the extent that I gave its trellis away to a rose I discovered in another part of the garden. I guess that was all the inspiration it needed to poke its head up and say "Hey, bring that back!"

Just down at bit, and behind two trees, is the lovely NOID, that was supposed to be C. ligusticifolia. I planted it last year, and it flowered once, I think just so that it could let me know the label was wrong. I'll get a picture of its flower this year and get an ID for it hopefully.

This one's label said C Alpina Tage Lundell; my requirement was only that it be a pruning group 1 clematis so that I could have it grow up my Rose of Sharon and not worry about pruning. It sure is growing this year, slowly stretching its way up the many trunks my ancient RofS has.

Saved from certain death, or at least a mundane growth, is C. Helios. Very slow to get started this year, but that its growing at all is amazing to me.

This is C 'MultiBlue', and the first clemmie I planted when we moved here two years ago (I had barely started unpacking...lol). So this is its third, leap, year and there's got to be two dozen big fat buds on it right now.

This is a newcomer this year, Mrs. Cholmodeley; I have great hopes for her, thus the big fat obelisk.

This is C 'Cherokee', and its open flowers simply enchanted me so I was forced to buy it and pot it up to put in my zen patio area. That's my story and I'm sticking to it...

Another unknown. It did have a correct ID when I bought it, but the winter winds I guess blew it away. The flowers are yellow and will be tiny. I bought it late summer last year and even though it was small I planted it anyway and it just took off running; a real grow fiend this one.

The last one for tonight is C 'Empress'. Bought early summer last year but it didn't flower, so this is its second full season and its got countless buds of all sizes on it. Its going to put on a real big show soon ... and I'll be on vacation in Arizona...lol.

Very nice!!! Looks like your clematis are doing great!

Yeah!!..They look like they are happy and they will be stunning with each passing year...Jeanne

Thanks Dawn and Jeanne!

Flowers have started opening on Multi-Blue and Empress, I'll try and post pictures before we leave for vacation on Sunday. And Tage Lundell is just leaping up that Rose of Sharon now. God, I love spring!

Here's Multi-Blue with a few flowers open and a few more starting. I love its big poofy centre. All its open flowers are on top of the trellis - dozens more buds are waiting below, and it doesn't seem like its finished growing yet this year.

Here's Dutchess; it appears that all her flowers are starting to open at once! What a show-stopper; I'm sure glad I planted this one at my front door!

niobe.

Dr. ruppel

OH la la just lovely!!! Yours are really doing great!!! Good for you. I have a few clems that have some flower buds happening but that is about all....I am sure it will be a while yet before I get flowers but I am looking forward to it!!!

Wow, is that Niobe as red as it looks? They're such a deep and lovely red. Looks like I'm not finished shopping for clematises yet this year.

Wow Christine!

I'm jealous...you've got blooms already!!? mine are just starting to grow...

Hee hee hee...the joys of living in a green belt.