Clematis ‘Asao’ made its appearance this week. Raised in Japan, this beauty graces the shrub Viburnum dilatatum ‘Michael Dodge.’  The Viburnum will bloom later and so will Asao, thus extending the show in this area of the garden.

In their native habitat, Clematis climb through shrubs & trees without hurting the host plant. They lift themselves by twisting their leaf stalk gently around the nearest support. I like to go along with nature. She knows what she is doing.

Imagine more of your shrubs doing double duty.