and a lantana with marigolds and zinnias in front. The deer mostly avoid it - we get color from late spring through fall.

The mum is Country Girl (a nice single pink vigorous perennial) - the clematis is Lady Diana.

Nothing grows in it except junk mail. I do have a clematis growing along the porch railing, tough.

Not a chance. I love clematis. I have a purple one that blooms most of the summer. The other 4 put out for about a month then the flowers die off. They are ugly in winter. I'm not sure when the proper time to cut them back, is? But before they start back up in the spring, I try to cut back the vines.

When I got mine, it was at a roadside summer fruit stand affair. The seller told me they like their feet in the shade and their heads in the sun. He told me to plant deep, too. About 18 inches down.
They seem to be expensive. I think mine were like $25.00 a piece but got 5 for $100.00. If I remember correctly.

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It's the more purple one. Oops.

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And so are the sprinklers. I can't get to the ever blooming Clematis, right now, to show you.

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It has a double ruffle. It is so different from my others. It blooms most of the summer, too.