ha-right! Good thing--as much as I love them (I used to grow many mighty impressive astilbes in MN) they really don't like it here

dirtdorphins said:Remember that not-Josephine, not-anything-else-either mystery clem?
Well, it doesn't actually have anthers...

Those things are some kinda strange petals...

So it is still not-Josephine
maybe, but I don't think it looks quite like Clematis Empress™
but I'm wondering if any of you know what some antherless possibilities might be?

Dirt ...

By accident I found this in the ATP database and it has the same strange petals you mention. The color appears to vary a lot, but maybe this clematis is your 'Not-Josephine'

Clematis Crystal Fountain™

Smiles,
Lyn

This can I watch always
https://youtu.be/fr9LAqmreEg

Beautiful video of the flowers and different advice on planting. Looks like he has a of of problems with poor drainage

Very nice video. Thank you. I agree with Anna about his concerns regarding drainage.

Lyn, Crystal Fountain does not have the center bars like dirt's image shows.

Taken a few days ago, Romantika, on an overcast day so not showing the deep rich color at it's best.



Posted this in the multi-plant section, Lady Emma Hamilton with Franziska Maria

Great combo.
Yes, the richness is better in real life

Gorgeous blooms Sue!

Ok so my Guernsey Cream is done blooming and did poorly again this year. I am suppose to cut it back, but how far? I read to the first buds, but it is a tangled mess, so should I just whack it off at about 18" and not worry about finding those intersections?

That is what I do Cookie when I cant seem to find where it begins and ends.

Karen - yes, cut it back to 18".

Well I bit the bullet and cut it back but in the process, I became a murderer There was a bird nest in the mess and I had no clue until the two little ones fell out and the mother had a fit!
They were full size sparrows, but they couldn't fly very well.

One last question about mulching. They say the more mulch the better so I am piling oak leaves around the base. On my other Clem's, as the leaves compost down, I add more, but is that composed mess at the base doing any harm to the plant.

Sorry to hear about the bird nest accident. I hope the mother can relocate them.

It's fine! I have an accumulated mass of leaves under my montana grandiflora and it does very well.

DH said he saw a procession coming from the garden and the birds had two tiny coffins

Too sad.

Karen - sorry to hear about the birds...hopefully they will survive.

I almost did the same - last year I was whacking away at a barberry and felt like I was being stared at. I was - by a mother catbird sitting on a nest just inches away from my pruners. I stopped just in time, and the eggs hatched within a day or two. So then I got curious and starting walking by periodically to look, and one day I got dive-bombed and chased all the way back into the house. To make peace I started putting fruit out every day.

Here's The President along with Hagley Hybrid. Upper left is Candida Lanuginosa and it's huge this year.

Love when they mix it up. Has the weather been different this year?

They grow together though that wasn't my plan. Candida was supposed to have the trellis behind the magnolia, Hagley the little chair that probably isn't in sight, and The President could have whatever space it wanted but normally went right. So much for human plans.

The buds here look as though they must be Hagley since they appear pink, but they are The President. You can see some of the old rusted tiny chair (for plants).


All clematises were much later than normal due to the cool spring.