The sweet autumn clematis is in full bloom and it’s wonderful.
Every spring I cut the clematis down nearly to the ground and string new twine on the 8-foot trellis to give it more room to twist and turn. Then I go up on the deck and string twine from the trellis around the railing supports so by the time August comes the clematis has grown to 6 feet wide and 10 feet tall. Anything that grows within its reach gets sucked into its arms and I have to gently, patiently untwist its curling fingers and rescue tomato plants and daisies from its grasp.
The clematis also put out lots of runners throughout the garden last spring and while I dug up and gave some away, pulled up others, there were a few that were left to twine where they might. Several of them latched onto the purple coneflowers.
For months it’s just a green growing monster and then about early August the buds begin to swell. For a week or so they get infinitesimally bigger every day until one morning there will be one tiny blossom open in the corner. By night there might be ten. The next day 50. By the third day the vine is a riot of small white blooms.
And the aroma. The aroma reminds me of lazy summer days when I was 16 and in love. It’s impossible to feel down when the sweet autumn clematis releases its perfume.
This weekend the honey bees moved in to feast along side the bumble bees. They explored every blossom, sucking up the nectar before flying off to their hidden hives to store it away. I may eventually get to eat some of their honey if I’m lucky and will remember the smell of late August and the sweet, sweet clematis.
Farewell to summer and welcome the bittersweet joys of autumn.
Great close up. My mother had a love-hate relationship with hers because of it’s invasive properties you described to well including- “Anything that grows within its reach gets sucked into its arms …”, but the fragrance is wonderful.
Lovely and lovely post. Our honeysuckle vine was uprooted this summer, perhaps I’ll think about replacing it with a clematis.
I don’t think I’ve ever smelled clematis! I for one will be happy to see summer go. We have 82% humidity right now, at 9:00 am. Gah.
Love!
That clematis is not hardy here. ::le sigh::
I’ve got a regular blue clematis – much younger. Not nearly as exciting as yours…
Want.