Wednesday, December 1, 2010

A Week Late for Wildflower Wednesday

Gail, of Clay and Limestone hosts a once a month Wildflower Wednesday I usually participate in.  I don't always hit the right day, but aim to.  I decided to do a post about a plant that I love, but don't have any of at home.   It's Clematis fremontii S. Wats., what I know as Fremont's Clematis.  I found out it's also called Fremont's Leather Flower.  Nebraska is one of the states it's native to.  I have a clump in a flower bed at church that I took some seed heads from after finding out they didn't have any plants to sell this year at UNL's arboretum, where I got the original plant.  Most of the seed heads are in the garage, and it was too cold to go take a photo of them.  I should have taken a photo of the one at church.  Maybe I will yet.  I need to learn what it means to do a moist cold stratification to get the seeds to grow.  I meant to go ahead and put some of the seeds on the ground this fall, but haven't yet. 

Do any of you have any experience with this plant?   Let me know if you have any tips for getting it to grow.  Here's a link to one of the sites that gives growing information for this lovely little clematis that does not climb.

This vase has no water in it.  I picked this stem, hoping it would take root, but it didn't.  The leaves on the plant outdoors are browner. 


I moved the vase off of the window sill for some of the photos.


This photo is similar to the one above, but is closer of the seed head.  I think it's pretty cool.


I've been telling people that November went by faster than any other month this year.  In a few weeks, the days will start getting longer again, and spring will be on its way.  Yippee!

13 comments:

  1. It cracks me up when I start reading the countdown and excitement for Spring already.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi,

    Spring??!!! Oh yay, winter solstice is soon... Yipee, I really need the days to lengthen again.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hello there Sue ! .. I am still gathering the blogs I had when I lost them with my name change.
    Here you are and your blog looks wonderful !
    That header picture is a real smile inducer : )
    That seed head looks similar to clematis ones .. all wild and wire like, haha
    Ah .. yes .. Spring ... can NOT wait !!
    Joy

    ReplyDelete
  4. I'm not familiar with this clematis, but I hope it roots and grows for you, Sue. I'm ready for a little down time this winter, so I'm not anxious for spring yet, but longer days...that is something to look forward to!

    ReplyDelete
  5. What color of bloom, blue? I had some but they liked to sprawl a lot.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Clematis seedheads are so lovely. Would love to see this in bloom. Judging by your countdown, that won't be too long.

    ReplyDelete
  7. A Clematis that I don't know! This situation must be remedied immediately. Thanks for introducing me to it. I haven't had any luck with taking cuttings from Clematis. If I figure out the secret, I'll share it with you. If you figure out the secret, please share it with me.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Dear Sue, I love clematis and have several, but not this one. I can see why you would want it in your garden. Pamela x

    ReplyDelete
  9. I am always a little sad at the lengthening of the days after Winter Solstice. I never look forward to summer. Spring is always our shortest season, with summer taking over much too quickly.

    I hope you have good luck with propagating the clematis. They are all so beautiful. I look forward to seeing your photos of them as they grow.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Even if it's wild it is beautiful, but maybe all plants started as wild before being domesticated.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I don't have C. fremontii, Sue but I grow a similar species Clemmy, C. viorna. It has the waxy bell shaped flowers that I adore. I'd get a few seeds planted outside right away and allow them to winter in the garden [in a pot for close up inspection]. Those seeds look fluffy and fat like they're really quite viable.

    Sorry it's been so long since I visited. Cute photo of you and your grandson romping. What a lucky little boy he is!

    ReplyDelete
  12. I love Clematis, hadn't heard of this variety before. I love its seedhead, hopefully you can get one of the seeds to grow.
    I was just talking to my daughter about how it won't be long before the days get longer. It's 4:30 now and pretty dark already.

    ReplyDelete
  13. It is a lovely flower. I've never heard of it before. I so hope it grows for you Sue.

    ReplyDelete

I welcome comments and questions from anyone, including those who do it anonymously. Some people find my posts by doing searches, and I like hearing from them. I guess spammers won't even read this message, but I will delete spam as soon as I see it.