Flower Tour: Deep Purple Clematis

The clematis is blooming. In front of it is mallow, which will bloom just after the clematis is finished.

Flower Tour: Clematis on the Arbor

This is a clematis planted last year, to replace one of the Blaze of Glory climbing roses that succumbed to rose cane blight. 

Dependable Clematis

Clematis is a dependable perennial is our growing zone. This one blooms with purple profusion, drops its flowers and usually blooms more gently in autumn.

Birch Tree with Purple Flowers

A clematis climbs this birch tree to "give" it flowers.

Ice in the Garden

While I am concerned about the damage the extreme cold has done to my garden, this icicle display is O.K. The clematis vines are cut to the ground in the spring anyway.

Frozen Garden: Clematis

This is what becomes of the big purple flowers of summer.

Clematis After the Bloom

What's left after the purple petals fall to the ground.

Web Decor

A small spider web on top of the clematis vines.

Clematis Blooms

Hard to believe the vines were cut to the ground this spring. The clematis gives its best purple flower show now, but will re-bloom later with fewer flowers. The green stalks are mallow plants.

Clematis Skeleton

What's left after the clematis blooms blow away.

Clematis

This is the type of clematis that has to be cut to the ground every fall, or spring. It shoots up about 8 feet tall.

Clematis Fluffs

These spidery tufts are on the clematis vines. They replace the purple flowers seen during its height of blooming.

Clematis

This climbing vine blooms twice each summer. It's also a popular home for nesting house finches.

Let it Snow....let it snow....etc.

The reddish-brown vine is a clematis plant. Little birds find shelter in the leaves in the winter on days like this - with plenty of snow falling. Maybe another 7 inches tonight, and as the cold temperatures make us shiver, I'm really hoping the squash bugs are freezing to death...literally. I'll be browsing the seed catalogues. I'll germinate petunia seeds next month.