My cheap flowerbed

thistlebloom

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digitS' said:
Clem-u-tis, there are lots of things I don't know about the vines.

When I bought this house there was a rosebush on the north side. It was a huge rambler of some sort, it never bloomed that summer. The realtor had a photograph from the year prior when the house was 1st listed showing that rose bush - it wasn't blooming then either.

The rose was trying to get around the house and out of the shade. Maybe I should have just moved it but it went in the garbage can and I went looking for a clem-u-tis.

I had noticed a beautiful white one in my old neighborhood but after one season of bloom, it disappeared. Suspecting that some of these varieties weren't very hardy - I just went with Clematis jackmanii, the purple variety that seemed to do well everywhere around here. I've never known whether I could have had one of the stunningly lovely newer types.

The jackmanii didn't disappoint, however! I bought 2 and put 1 on the north side of the garage. The 1 on the house gets summer sun early and late in the day because we are so far north and that sun sure gets into the north sky. A fence and the chicken house blocks the afternoon sun for the clematis on the garage. It may die all the way back to the ground during a summer but makes adequate growth come spring so that it is, at least, noticeable. The 1 on the house is almost beyond the vine category and into a "landscape feature" class.

Steve
Steve, you say "CLEM-uh- tis" I say "clem-AT-tis" :D
either way they're beeyooteeful vines!!
Jackmanii are a good choice because they are so vigorous and just want to bloom. I bet yours are stunning!
I have about 17 at last count but so far no jackmanii (what's the matter with me? ) Fortunately I haven't run out of places to put them , and If I do I'll have to put in some random fence, or plant another tree.
It's very,very dangerous for me to go to a nursery and spot clematis, I just have to make some lame excuse to buy one.

My family probably doesn't mind peanut butter sandwiches....
 

Southern Gardener

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thistle, that bed is beautiful!!! I don't have good luck with clem-AT-tis either. Mine always look sick. I'd love more shade so I can grow more hydrangeas and try hostas.
 

journey11

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Your new flowerbed looks very nice! I like edging mine with rocks too. Are those native stones, or did you have to purchase them? What a great deal you got for your $20! I love astilbes. Yours look like they are ready to burst into bloom very soon.
 

Carol Dee

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You have some very nice plants in there! Two of which I have NEVER had success. Astilbe and Clemetis :hit I still have plenty of places for shade loving plants and would like to try the Astilbe again. :fl Wish me luck (or post a tip!) :)
 

thistlebloom

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journey11 said:
Your new flowerbed looks very nice! I like edging mine with rocks too. Are those native stones, or did you have to purchase them? What a great deal you got for your $20! I love astilbes. Yours look like they are ready to burst into bloom very soon.
Thanks Journey!
The big rocks are definitely native, just picked up off the property, and a few were buried where I wanted to plant something.
Rocks aren't something you need to pay money for around here!
 

thistlebloom

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Thanks for the kind words Southern and Carol Dee! :)
One thing about astilbes is that they don't like heat, especially if the soil is dry. They can curl up and make like a corn flake overnight.
 

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