Monday, October 06, 2008

It's Bloomin' Tuesday!

Welcome!
I used to cut my clematis down in the fall but I was told it was better not to cut them down at all. Some types are supposed to bloom twice a year and if you cut them down they wouldn't. This all turned out to be good advice.
This year when I went to trim off the spent blooms so they would bloom more, all my clematis were a tangled mess. I made an instant decision to cut them all to the ground!

Luckily that was a good decision. All these blooms are since I cut them off at ground level. I'm expecting them to be great next year.
I had to show you this picture of what I found in the clematis climbing up the ladder on my shed. It's a crow feather.
This is the one that is supposed to bloom twice a year. It's doing very well today but we're supposed to be getting a very heavy frost.
This one is a little slower than the others but it always has been. It did so well this summer the trellis was too little so I switched it out for this ladder that was my Mom's.
Hopefully it will look like this again next summer!

If you would like to show us what's bloomin' where you are planted, just sign your name and permalink on Mr Linky. Please add a link to this post on your blog. Now sit back and enjoy the garden tour!




14 comments:

Anonymous said...

Your Clematis are beautiful right now Jean. I love that most of them are rebloomers. Cutting them back seemed to rejuvenate them. I use to cut back my Niobe every fall too, but this year I forgot & got a second flush. The ladder makes a nice trellis. :)

Suzanne said...

I just love clematis. I whack mine down every Spring to within a foot of their lives and they grow like gang-busters the first month and a half and then shoot out flowers all Summer long. The varieties you have are just beautiful! Love the pinks and purples!

Anne Fannie said...

Hi Jean, I just love your Clematis blooms. Very pretty! I also like your Mom's vintage ladder!
Love, Ann

Aiyana said...

Your Clematis is very nice. When I was in Colorado a few weeks ago, my son's Clematis still had a few flowers left. It covers the whole garage wall! They cut it back every year after it dries up in the fall, and it comes back stronger than ever in early summer. Still wish I could grow these.
Aiyana

Grammy said...

Hi Jean, I had to leave all my clematis at my old house. So I really enjoy seeing your blooms. How wonderful they are. Thanks. Have a great week.

Sweetie said...

Your clematis are lovely. I planted one this year for the first time and it died. I'll try again next year. I really like the rustic look of the ladder.
Sweetie

Unknown said...

I had no idea that you are supposed to cut back Clematis, I did read somewhere that pruning helped for more blooms.....I have been a little shy about trimming mine. Should I? Yours are beautiful!

Teri said...

Such beautiful flowers and those clematis stole my heart.

Carla said...

You are my clematis hero! I bought a ton of them (atleast one of every kind Lowes had on sale), but didn't keep track of who is who and when to trim, etc. I was fretting! So now, I'm just not going to worry about it today! Thank you for sharing your beautiful blooms! (I can't wait to see that baby climb your folded ladder-I will be a vision!)

Anonymous said...

Happy Bloomin' Tuesday.
I don't have any Clematis in my garden but I think yours are lovely.

Wendy said...

That ladder makes a perfect trellis. I find it difficult to cut back - seems to be you are spoiling the plant, but in reality, it usually makes them stronger and healther.
I love your clematis. Happy gardening!

Carole Burant said...

I've had my clematis for over 4 years now and it blooms wonderfully twice over the summer...it was in full bloom back in July when the big dog next door came running after the stray kitty and went right into my clematis and broke the vines right at the bottom! I was ready to strangle the dog! lol I'm hoping it won't affect its growth for next summer. xoxo

Beverly said...

My clematis never blooms. It just grows up the railing. It is in a shady area. Any help would be appreciated????

soulbrush said...

hi there - i've been posting a 'blooming tuesday' with teric for weeks and weeks, and didn't know it was your invention...so i am 'in' now and will see you every week.