The predominent Clematis we grow in this garden is a viticella 'Purpurea Pleana Elegans'. It is an old variety going back to Tudor times but it works well climbing and entwining up and throughout our rusted arches and arbours which we have all around the garden. The puffed out rosettes of petals have a soft rusty pink colour and are a profussion of flower in the second half of the Summer.But today, Valentines Day, is the day I cut them all down to around 6 inches from the ground. Over the course of the next 5 months they will regrow and create arches of form and colour. This may look harsh but the plants thrive and look spectacular in Summer.
Otherwise the garden is beginning to awake from Winter slumber and buds and the leaves of Narcissus and Tulips are now arrowing out of the ground. Hope, at this dull, dreary time of year, that Spring will come.
