Let's revive a bit of life here in the Clematis Forum and share some of your favorite clematis blooms, growing tips, experiences, etc. get us all excited for the 2015 bloom season!
Any new ones you are looking forward to seeing this year?
Any new ones you plan on adding to your garden?

I have this one on my Wish List, love the large blooms with the ruffled edges.


A favorite picked up locally

I love Sonoma Batik. I think I lost mine last year, probably to the drought. In general, my clematises did not put on much of a show in 2014, possibly because of the drought and possibly because I pruned them carefully, according to instructions, for the first time. I think they do better left to their own devices in my garden. This year I'm not pruning them and I'm hoping for a return to the tall vines with many blooms I always had in the past.

I do not have luck w them either. They turn brown and the leaves fall off and the whole vine looks awful most of the time. They do bloom, but sometimes some of the buds turn brown and drop off.

Sounds like Clematis Wilt, Frillylily.

So glad you're breathing some new life into clematises, Sue. Sonoma Batik is so vibrant!

My Southold friend, who moved to Michigan, wasted no time in ordering two of Will Goodwin since she loved them here. Her Mayleen, on her shed, was a sight to behold!



While going over photos tonight I went through all the photos of Dr. Ruppel and love the way it poses for photos!



Some years I prune back all but the Class 1 clem's and they do bloom later than normal but it's always a welcome sight. They do not do well in extended cool springs here but love the warm spring weather. Next year, for the first time, I may prune back all the Class 2's as they finish their first round of blooms and see if I can keep up with them. I've read directions that say to prune them by half and the following spring to only prune back scraggly growth. We'll see how I do.

If they make the co-op cut, I have these two coming in Spring.

Andromeda


Omoshiro


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Clematis Florida sieboldii is performing its normal December magic. These photographs were taken on Monday of this week. We have at least another week with no freezing temperatures expected and there are multiple buds that just might open.

I hope you get those clem's! Love the colors.

If I posted a photo of my Florida Sieboldii right now, you'd probably think it was a pot of something that died! On the other hand I've had a lot of buds on a Ville de Lyon for over a month and nothing more is happening. I have had Henryi blooming in the snow, so there is hope.

I like that photograph, Arlene.

Thanks. It's better in bloom!

Those are two pretty girlie colored blooms Debra!

Much prettier pirl!

A favorite, Clematis 'Ristimagi'

In case anyone wonders why I edited Debra's post, it's because her dividing line stretched out too far and made the post too wide for my monitor.

Lovely, Arlene.

Sue, they are girlie colors, aren't they. The Omoshiro is said to be certain, waiting until probably February to find out about the Andromeda (if it will make the cut for ordering).

Never noticed, Zuzu. Thank you, I sometimes don't pay enough attention to those things.

Omoshiro is absolutely my favorite clem. I have been going over photographs and saw that I have a total of 310 for just Omoshiro.

The colors on Ristimagi are great. It's so vivid.

Now, that's a testament, Arlene. Guess I made a good choice out of the 15 initially offered in the co-op.

Since I do have three of them, I guess you could say it's my favorite beyond a reasonable doubt.

At the start of purchasing clematises, we were buying through Wayside and they had great deals for collections. Every collection included Jackmanii so I do have at least three of that one but wouldn't have ordered it except that there was no avoiding it!

Brushwood has listed several new clematis! here are a few.

http://www.gardenvines.com/cle...
http://www.gardenvines.com/cle...
http://www.gardenvines.com/cle...
http://www.gardenvines.com/cle...
http://www.gardenvines.com/cle...
http://www.gardenvines.com/cle...
http://www.gardenvines.com/cle...
http://www.gardenvines.com/cle...
http://www.gardenvines.com/cle...
http://www.gardenvines.com/cle...

Here are all their new offerings:
http://www.gardenvines.com/new...

I have several clematis in pots that are dormant, and Otto Froebel planted in the ground that I want to transplant, can this be done now? Our ground has not yet frozen, and we still have several more months of cold weather.

I'd vote for transplanting when you feel like doing it. Once it goes dormant not much will change until warmth arrives.

Thanks Arlene. I'm ready to get outside and play in the dirt I can't wait for spring!