Week 30, Year 3: Clematis Files

Yes, you read that right – I still have not learned my lesson and I’m back for more punishment at the hands of a clematis vine. For those of you who have followed this blog from the beginning, you know that clematis have been a particular struggle for me. The beautiful climbing vine has a mind of its own, and that mind usually does not prefer confinement in a pot. While many Wisconsin gardeners find easy success with clematis, I’ve always been challenged to find success. The critical difference is of course the container. Clematis are just not meant to be container plants, but for some reason, I’m bound and determined to try year after year.

This year, I really thought I would resist. I truly had no intention of buying a clematis (do I ever?). However, I just could not resist this year’s clematis when I saw it growing on this beautiful trellis. So, I figured the clematis struggle would be worth the long term joy of the trellis, which could easily be repurposed for less frustrating endeavors once I killed off the clematis. 

 

So, I set this year’s clematis up to be even more of a failure than the others. I planted it in a small pot without much concern for its well being and I shoved the angel wing begonia in it four weeks later when I was looking for a place to put the cutting. Once the original flowers died, I sat back and waited for the shriveling, frustrating misery of years past.

Well, the joke was on me. Apparently, clematis really do have a mind of their own – a contrary, curmudgeony, stubborn mind. This year’s plant must have realized I wanted it to do die, so it decided to thrive instead. Two weeks later, a bud emerged and bloomed a few days later – into a healthy, purple flower. 

 

 

 

 

It’s bloomed twice since I bought it  and it has continued to grow on the trellis. The vines are healthy, the leaves look great and it hasn’t shriveled up after blooming. Frankly, I don’t understand it, but I’ve stopped trying to because I figure the minute I actually think about it, the clematis will die. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that this post doesn’t send it over the edge.