Cadence lives in BC, Canada and that mild, maritime climate accommodates any clematis - she is not restricted except by flowering time and/or color. Lilacs traditionally bloom in this area by Mother's Day - when I was a child, we would pick bouquets of them for May Day. Most of the type 2's bloom here soon after so you have a pretty wide selection of choices to choose from, not just the late blooming selections. A type 3 is not a bad choice though, as it greatly simplifies pruning chores when you are using a shrub like a lilac for support. I too like the idea of the dark purple/dark blue as well - should show up in the lilac foliage and a great contrast to the peach colored rose and the hydrangea. Hard to beat Jackmanii or Jackmanii Superba both for ease of growth, availability and long bloom season.

Anybody know anything about a Clematis Moonlight? I ordered one online this summer from Springhill Nursery. It is supposed to be white. It was in a tiny little pot about an inch in diameter and the instructions said to go ahead and plant it. I did, but the thing isn't growing at all. It is a very pretty, very small, green little thing, though. Should I dig it up and put it in a pot? Also, I have one that I ordered at the same time as the Moonlight. It was supposed to be a Crimson Star but after I planted it and it had a few blooms, it turned out to be purple. I'm not sure what kind it is. It is only about 8 inches tall...that is the running vine. Should I dig it up and put it in a pot as well? Thanks!!! I've never had a Clematis before so I am totally ignorant about it all. Beverly

As soon as I have some spare time I will use the tutorial about putting photos online from my phone [yes, I am "tech challenged"......] Have a lovely photo of Mrs. C & Ville de Lyon. Also have photos of my new "rock bed" - a small area that I had made up to be a vegetable garden - got 2 peppers planted, but the flowers are so much prettier! I have edged them with new daylilies [2 orders from Maryott, who was going out of business] and put pansies in between them. Am going to put heat loving plants when the pansies play out - like angelonia, periwinkle......this way, when the lilies are finished blooming, there will always be flowers. I will try to get photos uploaded this weekend.....call it my rock bed because I put river rock [a bit larger than pea gravel, easy to walk on] in between the 3 raised beds. NO weeds!!! If a few do come up, easy to yank them out. Really like this new bed.....carrying 80 bags of rock was no fun, but now I love it! I have 2 Crepuscule roses on the arbor but may add some clematis as well as putting them along the fenceline where the wrought iron gate is....

One more I forgot, Venosa Violacea has purple and white flowers. Again, CotW says it will get larger than I see it in my garden, up to 4 meters, but it stays below 12’ in my garden. I will post some photos of these in my garden when I can with my slow internet Rebecca (red), Piilu (pink), and C. recta ‘ Seriuos Black’ (nonclimbing white with darker foliage) in year 3 in my garden. Little Bas growing into Hydrangea paniculata Quickfire