I Figured Something Out

I tried to use one of my photos for the background in my template, but kept getting the message that the image was too large.  I was able to put a small one up, but that didn't do me any good until I did a search and found out I could repeat the image.  I used a photo from December, 2009.  I was going to post it here, but couldn't find it.  It's like one of these:

Looking through these made me shiver.  Well, I still say, if it's going to be this cold, we may as well be snowed in a day or two.  We've only had a dusting so far.  It looks like I'm going to need a new header photo soon.  I hope you are keeping warm wherever you are.

(Added Tuesday:  I got tired of seeing the fall header photo against the snowy background, so went ahead and put a similar winter one from last year for now.)

Fremont's Clematis Part 2

Grace told me I better be getting my seeds planted outside, so I went to the garage to get the stem that had broken off the plant at church that had more seedheads on it.  I planted some seeds in pots, and some in the ground.  I hope they grow.  I didn't plant them very deep because I didn't take any tools with me to loosen the ground.  I saved some back to plant deeper in another spot later.

All these are on one main stem, which dried after breaking off of the main plant.  (I had cut the one and placed it in the vase in the previous post in hopes of it growing roots in water, but it didn't.)

I love the seed heads!

 I took some of the seeds off to see what they look like.

These are the seeds that were left on that bloom.

I found a photo from the Kansas Native Plant Society that shows a Fremont's clematis in bloom.  The site gave permission to show it if it's not for commercial use, and to give credit to the photographer, who is Craig Freeman, in Russell County, Kansas. I'm not sure if Craig lives in that county, if that's where he took the photo, or whether it's both.  I like his photo, though!

Have a great weekend!

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!