What a shame about Niobe. I hadn't heard that it's tricky, but maybe someone here knows some tips for growing it. Mine may be growing in spite of my techniques rather than due to them.

I was ordering clems from my wholesaler today, and they had some new ones from Evison I hadn't seen, Diamantina, Reflections and Shimmer, so he directed me to the Evison catalogue to see the pics. Probably everyone has seen this already but here it is:

http://www.raymondevisonclemat...

He also told me about some videos on Youtube about clems, so in case you haven't seen them, they are kind of interesting.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...

Thank you, Polly. I hadn't seen these yet. Diamantina looks extra-special, doesn't it?

It is lovely. Aren't most or all of the Evisons, though? In fact aren't most clems?

My wholesaler also mentioned there was another clematis breeding program. I forget where, it wasn't the men in Poland. He is sending me some info on it.

Finland? Estonia? Japan? People in those countries are producing some impressive varieties.

I think it might have been Finland.

I don't think it was Japan, I would have remembered that, as it is so hard to get plant material from there. I've been trying to import Japanese irises for years from there, with no success.

Ohhhhhh, I like that Diamantina! Looks like a bluer version of Josephine.

It looks the way I want Kiri Te Kanawa to look. The literature says each flower holds its shape for up to four weeks! That sounds like Josephine, doesn't it?

It should be available this year locally, if my wholesaler has it. They supply a lot of the large garden centers too.

I wish that would happen around here. The only ones I ever see are Jackmanii, Henryii and Ramona. Polly, do you sell online?

I don't, sorry. I only sell irises online.

There are lots of good clem vendors, though, and I expect they will get the newer ones this year.

There must be a list of clem vendors on here, somewhere?

I will look for them on my favorite sites. I usually pick up some nice ones on MamaJack's coop and she orders from Donahues.I don't know if she could order wholesale from elsewhere. Thanks!

Donahues doesn't have them. That's where I normally get mine. But I would suspect places like Silverstar or Brushwood will have them, as I have found a few different wholesalers that will carry them this year.

If you can't find them, let me know, and I will see if I can locate them for you.

I wish Evey was still selling them. She had some great new ones.

Yes. Too bad

Don't forget about Joy Creek. They carried all of the new Evisons last year.

Holi-cow How did I miss this thread.
Polly suggested I ask Zuzu what her experience with Joy Creek has been.
Prices
Size of plants
Shipping

Hi, JoAnn. I was going to tell you that I've always been lucky with my orders from Joy Creek, but that's really the wrong word. Luck has nothing to do with it. It's just a very good nursery, with conscientious employees. The plants I've bought from them (all kinds of plants, not just clematis) have all been healthy and they're never mislabeled.

The clematis prices vary because of size and patent fees. Most are $18, but the patented ones cost more and the ones sent in smaller containers cost less. The ones in the smaller containers usually are the varieties that spread out like crazy, so you do get bang for your buck on those.

The size is workable. Larger than the plants from Donahue's and Brushwood, but not so large that you break your back digging the planting holes.

As for shipping, I can only tell you that the cost is quite reasonable for me, but that's probably because the nursery is in Oregon, "right up the road" from me in California.

Thanks Huge. I will definatly give them a try. I have my wishlist for 2011 already.

Has anyone ordered clems form MichiganBulb. A gardenclub member was going to order from them but I wasn't sure about what size/condition to expect. Personally I think it is silly the way they rename them

Michigan Bulb is horrible.