Magic Potions for Clematis Climbing Vines

Clematis flowers more profusely with a dose of phosphorous and potassium.

By noon, temps had climbed to 100 degrees and, with that, the goals of the Friday Afternoon [Hiking] Club rapidly shifted gears. The cool dark of an air-conditioned theater beckoned. Why go hiking when the Harry Potter movie is in town?

For those of you who have not seen the movie, no worries... Harry seems to be holding up just fine.

Which, in and of itself, is a miracle if you ask me.

Nurseries say 'part sun/shade' but every Clematis I've ever met has admitted she prefers more sun.

After all, he's just a dorky high school kid. Yet, every September, when he heads back to school, he encounters another wannabe dark lord.

That pressure would have had me scurrying to the school counselor lickety split. Harry just takes it all in stride ~ though, sooner or later, all that extra curricular activity would have to start messing with his grade point average.

And, what about that poor kid's future? As a meddling Mom I just have to ask.... Will he ever find time to prep for his SATs?

Hot sun on her flowers and cool, damp roots. Place flat rocks over her root area or plant her next to shrubs that shade the ground. She'll quickly weave her way up through the shrub in search of more sun.

A 5-10-10 organic fertilizer should have your little Clematis jumping for joy. 5 = nitrogen, 10 = phosphorous and 10 = potassium:

My This & That Garden

"The greatest gift of the garden is the restoration of the five senses." ~ Hanna Rion

Jupiter's Beard & Catmint

A hot wind turns the dry ground into swirling dust devils. I water by hand, inspecting the flowers. For me, watering by hand is very therapeutic.

More Jupiter's Beard. This time with Salvia.

John Cabot Roses bloom all summer:

Goofing around outside is a good excuse not to answer the phone. Because.... I'm gonna lose it if I have one more conversation with little Ms. Annoying:

"We need some super compelling headlines! This is some of the most crucial copy as it is the first impression and can make or break their desire to read the ad!"

Oh, Good Lord, do I look like a blithering idiot?

I've been doing this job for 10 years. Little Ms. Annoying has been doing it for 3 whole months. Yet, she feels I need to be educated. I think I should cut the new girl some slack though I gotta tell ya...

That's getting harder with each passing day.

Salvia & Peonies

So, I did what I always do when I have to come up with a 'super compelling headline!' I went outside to water the flowers. I always get my best ideas in the garden. When I'm hiding amongst the blossoms in a quiet place where I can think.

Pink Evening Primrose & Johnson's Blue Geraniums

"That one is a weed." So states my most annoying neighbor as she walks past with her horrid, little dog. I glared at her for a moment wondering who gave her permission to talk. She kept pointing at the weedy culprit getting a big drink of water from my hose.

Yeah, yeah, I replied and moved the hose. This one's a weed, too.

"Well aren't you gonna...?"

Pull 'em? I interrupted, snarling a bit. No. I like 'em. Besides I'm done with this garden. I want the weeds to fill in all the blank spots.

Climbing Clematis graces me with flowers all summer long.

Just 'tween you and me: I'm not really done with that garden. I just say those things to torment her. And, I've been in an ornery mood, lately, so I was kind of glad she walked by.

* It generally takes me 2 summers to figure out a garden. I simply don't have the brainpower to plan it perfectly then sit back and relax ~ the way you normal people do things.

* The first year I plant This & That, the half dozen or so long-blooming perennials I know will grow and get beastly large as time goes on. The following summer I squeeze the special stuff into the mix.

(Now promise me you won't spill those beans to my most annoying neighbor.)

Dense Pack: Squish 'em close together and weeds don't have much of a chance.