Winter Flowering Clematis

I love winter flowering plants, they make much more of an impact as an individual plant on a background of bare stems.
I planted  Clematis cirrhosa 'Freckles' about 4 years ago, on the fence surrounding the front garden, facing the driveway, so we can see the flowers as we go in and out of the house. Then came three hard winters and each winter there were one or two miserable flowers on the plant.
I started doubting the wisdom of planting it at all.

But this year, with the mild weather came a pleasant surprise.

The plant is covered in large beautiful flowers. I guess the weather does matter.

Flowering in the New Year

It's been a while since I wrote anything, as sometimes happens, life as well as an extended, and long awaited trip to Japan got in the way. I still didn't sort out the thousands of images I brought back, I hope to do so soon, so I can write about the amazing gardens I saw.

Meanwhile in the garden there is much more greenery then usual at this time of year. The weather has been mild in the autumn and well into winter with only a few days of frost. The roses have kept their leaves, and some have buds and a few flowers.

Walking around the garden the plant that caught my eye is Viburnum tinus 'Eve Price'.


It provides good structure during the rest of the year despite occasional attacks of Viburnum beetle. But, it is in winter when it is most valuable. I don't remember when it flowered during the snowy winters we had in the last 3 years, but I seem to remember it was much later.

Viburnum tinus 'Eve Price'