Nothing signals the end of summer like Sweet Autumn Clematis (Clematis terniflora) and hydrangeas cut for drying.
© All photos 2011
© All photos & text 2010
It was my relationship with Penny McHenry* that instilled in me the love of hydrangeas.
I have to confess I always found the blue mopheads rather flashy, I much prefered the delicate lacecaps. Working over a period of time with Penny on reinventing her garden, I had the opportunity to observe the plants closely in all their stages of growth. When they began to fade and look like this…
and this …
I was hooked! Suddenly I appreciated the versatility of this shrub and how many months of beauty it contributes to the garden.
The paniculatas are late blooming, above & below, Pink Diamond (Hydrangea paniculata ‘Pink Diamond’)
Right now this is a magnet for butterflies and several species of bees. When the sun shines here, the area is all a flutter.
AND THE REST…
The oak Leaf hydrangea turns amethyst, true to its name. (Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Amethyst’)
Annabelle hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens ‘Annabelle’) is that lovely Chartreuse colour, blends beautifully with the hosta. Notice there is no foliage left on Annabelle. The deer love her.
Hydrangea ‘Snowflake’ is still flowering..
but starting to show some browning.
The berries on the viburnums are ripening, these above will be red…
and these are the yellow berries of Viburnum ‘Michael Dodge’ starting to colour up.
More delights, the seed heads of Clematis. Once described as curled up little terriers.
Figs are starting (above)… and below, ongoing blueberry harvest.
with more to come. The late blueberries are just starting.
Ah, summertime!
* Penny McHenry dear friend and founder of the American Hydrangea Society.
© All photos & text 2010
I tried to grow some Clematis with Hydrangea paniculata, the late-blooming panicle hydrangea, (sometimes refered to as ‘Pee Gee’ or ‘Tardiva’.) but this is not successful.
Clematis Purpurea Plena Elegans In Hydrangea paniculata ‘Pink Diamond’ ( above & below)
This hydrangea is pruned drastically early spring. When the clematis starts to grow, the branches of the hydrangea are low and bare . There, they intertwine. The hydrangea however, keeps on growing, thus the clematis blooms deep in the shrub and not in front, where it is wanted.
Here Clematis texensis ‘Gravetye Beauty’ hidden in foliage.
Another lesson learned.
‘
I previously mentioned my Clematis Crush ( here and here ). Beside the beautiful flowers, the fact is they require only vertical space. That makes them the perfect companion to any shrub or small tree. Most shrubs have a limited bloom time so a well-chosen flowering vine can really extend the season of beauty. Also, from a design point of view, any element seen at eye level has tremendous impact.
I thought I would showcase some of the clematis blooming in the garden now.
Clematis viticella ‘Venosa Violacea’ climbing through a viburnum.
Clematis texensis ‘Catherine Clanwilliam’ on an obilisk till it reaches into the branches of Styrax obassia. Below, looking up into the flowers.
Clematis ‘Piilu’ or sometimes called ‘Little Duckling’, an Estonian hybrid with smaller flowers.
Most of the above are blooming in viburnums that are passed their peak. The clematis fill the gap between bloom time and berries in this part of the garden.
Below, Clematis ‘Rouge Cardinal’ being trained to clothe Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Snowflake’.
Finally, Clematis purpurea plena elegans, chosen to bloom with the roses. Below.
I hope you consider adding some to your garden.
© All photos & text 2010
To a peek through parts of my garden. Nothing is styled here, this is real-time. Hoses snaking around beds and weeds.
Poppies, from a dear friend who acquired them from a 90-year-old gardener 40 years ago. End of this month we will celebrate her 94th birthday.
some semi double, some single, all stunning.
I spread the poppy seed on cultivated soil in the late fall, after a rain. These seeds need light to germinate. If they were scattered in cultivated dry soil & then watered the soil would cover the seed, excluding the light.
I always allow the seed pods to ripen. After extracting the seed to be used in bread making and saving some for the garden, the pods are used in dry arrangements. This is an annual show.
And there are more Clematis.
This Clematis is ‘Multi-Blue’, the Viburnum is ‘Michael Dodge’. The viburnum flowers will turn to clusters of yellow berries in the fall when HOPEFULLY, the clematis will bloom again.
Another clematis, ‘Duchess of Edinburgh’ cascading through a Tea Olive (Osmanthus fragrans).
And finally,
The Potager. Growing now, Onions, Leeks and garlic. All the beds are enclosed with wire to keep the rabbits out.
© All photos & text 2010
My latest plant crush is with Clematis. I have planted many at the feet of shrubs & trees and to my delight they make wonderful companions in the vase with Peonies.
Not all Clematis have large showy flowers. Some, like Betty Corning (below) have nodding bell-shaped blooms & fabulous fragrance.
Some, like ‘Josephine’ (below).
And ‘Belle of Woking’ are fully double.
These plants may take several seasons to make a great show. Be patient, you will be richly rewarded.
Sometime, no matter how much thought goes into companion planting, It just does not give the results anticipated.
On a Variegated Tea Olive (Osmanthus heterophyllus ‘Variegatus’) I planned a creamy white Clematis to peek through Tea Olive’s foliage.
I did not plan on the green foliage of the Clematis!
So… variegated leaves peek through clematis foliage to pick up the creamy white flower!
Not exactly what I had expected. Pretty still.
© All photos & text