Well it’s not really a new favorite thing, but it is my current favorite thing. More commonly known as Sweet Autumn Clematis it is the most prolific and reliable grower in my tiny garden. Because of the encouragement I give it (if it were more formal, you could call it training, but I’m not that kind of gardener) it takes over the side deck railings and likes to twine around plants in my flower boxes as well.
Sweet Autumn Clematis
What you can’t see is the 10 foot wide railing underneath all of this. The vine itself has already climbed 12 feet, supported by a special trellis Jack built me a few years ago. Amazing really when you consider that I chop it down to about 6 inches from the ground each spring.
This year it’s blooming more on the trellis and less on the railings because I was lax in offering it supports to climb on. I won’t be late next year; I miss looking out my kitchen window and seeing the tumble of white flowers.
Bees and butterflies like it almost as much as I do (although this visitor is resting on some late garlic chive flowers, his next stop was the clematis).
Butterfly on flower
And I can usually depend on finding a few of these little creatures enjoying its shelter.
Praying mantis on plant
Here’s a second shot, just because.
Praying Mantis on railing
The clincher for me is its sweet scent. I always forget what it smells like and rediscover it each fall with fresh delight. After a rain it delicately seeps in through open windows and when I inhale I’m glad I have this little patch of beauty and fragrance as a transition to the shorter days of autumn.
Sweet Autumn Clematis
