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Monday 11 August 2008

Virgin's Bower ... hum ?


I planted my Virgin's Bower a few years ago to help fill in a rather skinny Englemann on one side of our deck. I have vines on both sides that climb way up to the roof to give us some privacy (and lots of oxygenated air ? ). I had read some where that VB was quite hardy and stood up for itself .. so I thought it would be a good match against the Englemann. It darn well is ! .. as stubborn and single minded as the Englemann could ever be .. meaning whip and chair time every 10 days or so. What the Englemann lacks in flowers the VB makes up for .. plus those amazing seed heads that are eye catching through winter when all the leaves have dropped from both vines. So would I recommend it ? Yes .. just keep in mind what you are looking for in the vine and if you can keep up with it when it is naughty ? : )



















16 comments:

Anonymous said...

This looks incredibly like my Sweet Autumn clematis. Does it smell like honey?
Rose

Anonymous said...

Oh, it's so beautiful! Your garden evokes something Asian to me, can't quite put my finger on it. I love those plants. Such rich texture!
Brenda

Laura said...

Lovely! It looks like it takes alot of battling to keep it in its place. The most beautiful climbers usually do :)

Anonymous said...

I googled this VB and it says it is easily confused with sweet autumn clematis, except it points out the difference in the leaves. Interesting - should I try it?

Priscilla George said...

What a beautiful vine!!! I'm in love.

CanadianGardenJoy said...

Hi Vanillalotus .. it was understated for the first couple of years then BANG .. it became an eye catcher and the bees love it too : )

If you do try .. make sure to have it away from where you are .. door ways, sitting areas .. because all the insects LOVE it a lot .. it is around my deck bench (no one actually sits on it) away from the deck door .. it is really pretty twined around it though !

It is quite small Nancy .. but yes .. like a mini clematis .. very pretty : )

Laura .. sort of in the middle road of battling .. not too bad but enough to keep you busy ? LOL It is a pretty one.

Rose I don't detect a smell from it .. but then I'm not putting my nose too close with the bees and wasps in it for now ? LOL

Rose said...

What a beautiful vine! Makes you wonder, though, who comes up with these names:)

Emma appears to be fully recovered from her surgery!

Anonymous said...

holy cow, it's gone rampant!! I can see why you have to do battle! I'd rather have that happen than the opposite tho, especially with something so beautiful.

CanadianGardenJoy said...

Kathleen .. hi there ! .. it took a few years for it to become as aggressive as the Englemann .. but you are right .. I'd rather have a robost ? vine than a weak sickly one to worry about ? haha

Hi Rose .. yes, thanks .. Emma has done very well .. but today I have to get a pee sample from her to check and make sure her UTI is cleared up .. they gave me liquid repellent kitty litter .. boy oh boy .. this is a waiting game though .. haha
YES !! how do they come up with these names anyways ??

Anonymous said...

The virgin is quite a lusty plant. She certainly can climb. I grow Autumn Clematis, and it is a thug here in Oklahoma. Beautiful photos and charming words.~~Dee

Gail said...

Joy,

Hi there! Your vine is gorgeous! I have Sweet autumn and she is a rampant spreader here in the middle south! But equally beautiful and with those divine seed heads! Glad to know you are doing well! Gail

CanadianGardenJoy said...

Hi Gail ! Thank you ! .. yes, this is a little flower but rather complex in structure so it is very interesting especially those amazing seed heads that finally go 'fluffy" in the winter .. like little cotton balls ? LOL

Dee .. thank you so much girl ! .. it took a couple of years but it is a great match with the Englemann .. so I am glad I took a chance with it .. some times being patient really does pay off ? : )

Katarina said...

It's a gorgeous clematis - I wish I had it!
/Katarina

CanadianGardenJoy said...

Hello Katarina ! .. I know you would love it in your beautiful garden ^..^ Joy

WiseAcre said...

So you'll have an Old Man's Beard for the winter. I guess it will look better than your Goatsbeard by the time it grows out.

.and I think I know who the character tossing a 500 Lb weight on me is.

CanadianGardenJoy said...

WiseA** .. so you still see me with that beard then do you ? .. BIG sigh ^..^
It can keep me warm along with my kitties and the fireplace I guess ?
And .. I would be thoroughly disappointed if you DIDN'T know who that character was !! haha