First, I didn't mean to hijack the OP's thread. One thing leads to another with me, I really get into some threads, don't say anything on most. I surmise some of the questions are directed at me. I don't know how that drainpipe drains, will find out. Agreed about the evergreens, hadn't been out there for some time, only about 4+ miles, and don't know how far back they are set; he lost the first ones; the soil is bad. I haven't inspected that part of the yard yet. I've suggested trying to amend the soil in places. I hope my son does not put a gazebo there, emailed him today it would ruin the look of the stone and the feeling of openness. He'd be pleased so many of you like it, has good ideas, but our tastes differ, especially about gazebos, pergolas. He wants some expensive European one with clunky feet. I like that obelisk, hadn't thought of something like that, and it would not detract from the wall, thanks for posting the pic. To sum up on that for now, I love the idea of a clem on the smaller wall if the water drains well. Had him look at some dichondra for the big one but think it might ruin the look, too, and could be troublesome to grow, says an annual at Swallowtail seeds. On to my "thing". Somebody gave me that idea over on the garden junk forum when I came home with a $2 coat rack from a yard sale, never thought of turning it upside down. Turned out easy, unlike my lovely old Victorian screen door on sawhorses in the basement that I don't quite have the expertise to make free standing and all the rest of that mess, worked my tail off on it. The coat thing is hollow and set on a 5' stake of rebar, used my level so it would be plumb. The gazing ball was $40+ at bestnest.com, and it's not copper but stainless steel. The clem does not want to cling to those curvy pieces at the top, so more cylinders of chicken wire tied on today. I fear it will not last very long because it looks like it was cheap to begin with, but I'll enjoy it while it lasts. Some rose is destined to be growing in front of it, but it only gets about 5 hours of sun a day there, had one but dug it out and gave it away. Here's what I started with, it's all on a thread on the garden junk forum but don't want to send you over there because I go off rambling just like I've done again. My house has been painted blue since, son had it done for me, neighbors were shocked at the difference some paint can make. I had it done that brown years ago from green but got tired of it. Then I didn't care about any of it for a long time, flowers have given me a new direction in my life and make me want to have it better around here. Got those pots and planter free when a neighbor moved, love them, wouldn't spend what it takes for those bigger pieces.

You asked the wrong question of me when you asked about spacing since I cram them as close as 12 inches or so on some of my trellises. As to whether it affects the eventual size of the plant I would guess that it probably does somewhat just due to the competition for nutrients and water. However this can be compensated for by making sure you supply the plants adequate moisture and nutrients. Since I don't have the same two clematis where one is planted by itself versus co-planted with another clematis, I can't say for sure. Just realize that if you planted another clematis with a nicely established one like in your picture (looks like Duchess of Albany), then the newly planted one will be at a distinct disadvantage since the existing one is so well established. That is why I tend to cram them together so they all have a fighting chance since they are relatively the same size.

As far as hardiness to cold and wind, if you plant type 3 pruning (whack off everything down to a couple pairs of buds per stem once it gets cold every year) there won't be problem since there isn't enough plant to catch the wind. If I can grow them here on the border between zones 4 and 5 in a windy river valley, they won't have a problem for you, Dwyerkg. Hummingbird Farm is inland not on the coast, so I don't know if she has customers along the Maine coast, but I have been quite pleased with the clematis I have gotten from them. The only concern I would have about growing clematis near the ocean would be salt spray. You would also need to be sure that your trellis is quite firmly planted so that it doesn't blow over in high winds.

Should have figured it was an integrifolia of some sort but it does add to the confusion when a clematis is not called by its official name. I like the color of the integrifolia flowers in the picture but integrifolia the species does not vary in color like in the picture. I figure that what is pictured and being sold is a mixture of generic integrifolia seeds. That isn't necessarily bad since you don't know what different colored flowers you might get out of such seeds, but the catalog shouldn't be listing them as clematis integrifolia since that can easily be confused with the straight species.