Nice very very nice!!! I got about 6 lill broad leaf D. Capensis growing in my lill "propegation chamber", there is also one big mouth flytrap that worked out from a leaf tugging (I must take some pics for you guys) My typical capensis flowered and produced a mass of seeds, I put these in my chamber on damp peat which is heated and sits under lights. Im hoping that within a few weeks I see many Capensis sprouting. Cheers Sheldon

Your plant looks like it is all new growth. Each vine is referred to as a stem and emerges separately from the crown of the plant. Pinching out the growing point of a stem encourages more lateral growth from two points then which looks like it is more stems but it is the same stem with more growth points. With three stems from the crown it has a good start. The first year It is in the ground most keep those three stems cut, pruned, low to encourage root establishment and more stems to emerge from the crown. Often there is not much new growth but the plant is working hard below ground. You might cut it back further 8-10 inches so you can see what is happening or leave it the height it is and continue to prune any single stem growth off this year. Early next spring cut it back low again. Then if you see more stems growing from the crown let it grow and bloom. If still only three stems emerge repeat this year's procedure. After blooming in your area you can cut the stems low so they grow and maybe bloom again. The third year in the ground most clematis have a burst of growth and you can let it grow with just pinching growth points to get that side growth. Note that pruning and pinching are different procedures for different purposes. Next spring you will see the old dried up looking stems which are referred to as old wood/old growth. With Pruning 2 clematis once these clematis are established (usually the third year in the ground) you will look at the old growth and see where there are green leaf buds coming and prune back to the highest part of the stem that has those leaf buds. Then cut off anything above that. Or cut it lower to shape it if it is getting too unruly or tall. If you cut it to 12 inches you may not get the early spring bloom and a chance for a second bloom. But you will still get a full bloom just a bit later. In my Z:4 garden most P:2 clematis die close to the ground because of our harsh winters. They still grow well just bloom a bit later. We rarely get a second bloom as the frosts come early though there may be a bloom or two throughout the later summer and early fall. Hope this helps ease your stress over growing clematis. Patience is the hardest part of establishing the new plants.

I am so sorry for your loss. Nothing said or done helps,but I do care, that you've had to go through this traumatic experience. My Mom died of ovarian cancer July 3rd 2009. She had the surgery followed by chemo treatments, it was in remission for 4 years. Only to come back again about a year and a half later. More chemo, tons of tests, they switched chemo treatments a few times. We got her into one of the best cancer treatment centers and the end result was, she still died. I seen my mom go through so much with the chemo treatments so I understand your mom's not wanting to go through it =/ I would of insisted Mom do chemo, too simply cause I couldn't bear to lose her. It hurts. It hasn't gotten better so far. In fact sometimes it seems to get worse as I realize, I've never gone without talking to her for so long. I really hope it does get easier for the both of us. Like you my Mom was pretty much all I had. Never been close to my Dad.

Yes, I was planning to run a counter across the top of the machines. I hadn't thought about fabricating myself. I will have to take a look around and see if I can find any soapstone here. I have been thinking I should pick up a tension rod and put it up between the two cabinets so I have a drying rod too.