Clematis

CLEMATIS

Ah! what is the correct pronunciation of the name? The English call it Clematis(Klem-a-tis)and the Americans call it Clematis! Sort that one out. Not a scientific survey but I did ask the bloggers when they came to Austin and visited the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. The only other English lady used the same pronunciation as myself. We were outnumbered.

 My Clematis number two, and this is their moment in the garden.

Unfortunately I have my hybrid showy, Ville de Lyon flower in the Texas garden and my shy, pitcher-shaped Texas native in the English garden. Both seem quite happy in their surroundings. So just like this transplanted English girl I think I'll just leave them be.

 

Exposed

          THE GLORY OF THE GARDEN

I started this blog in November last year! Better get busy with another post!

Scattered around my garden on Saturday's tour I had a quotation from the poem The Glory of the Garden by Rudyard Kipling. It was a poem I learnt at the age of eight, in school, in England. It has always been a favorite.

I had no idea that last night, on Masterpiece Theatre they would have the story of the Kipling family and the death of their son in WW1. The production was taken from the play My Boy Jack. 

How does this relate to my garden you may ask? Well, the poppies have been outstanding this year and in particular the Flander's poppy. I have never seen them so beautiful. Mine came from a packet of wildflower seeds I scattered a few years ago but next year I will have poppies from seeds taken from the poppies growing among the graveyards in Flanders. Several of our master gardeners have these in their gardens and have promised me some seeds.