Tree Following With Lucy: September


This month my ash tree forms the backdrop to the plant activity happening below it. As in other years, the plants growing against the garden fence have stretched themselves upwards to meet the lower branches of the tree. These are the ones NAH is so sure he wants to get rid of.

The thin, diagonal 'branches' you can see in the foreground are from my Rosa 'Rambling Rector'. This rose certainly lives up to its name and makes regular bids for freedom beyond my garden. I often have to untangle it from the ash tree at this time of the year.

The main plant you can see is Clematis 'Kermesina', a more delicate looking clematis of the viticella type. Don't be fooled, those stems are quite wiry and just like the rose it strives upwards in its bid to bend other, more sturdy plants to its will. This clematis always surprises me as it's usually hidden amongst the rose, then it pops out into the open in the autumn. I love its rich red blooms, especially when the dappled afternoon sunshine begins to shine through them.

The proximity of the ash's lower branches to my rose/clematis combo means I'm having a think about the future of the plants along my fence. More on that anon.

Have a look at Loose and Leafy's Tree Following entry to find out how Lucy and the rest of this year's tree followers are getting on this month.

Comments

  1. Lucy Corrander Now in Halifax!7 September 2014 at 09:42

    When the picture first came up I thought the hips were fruits of the ash and went off into thoughts of Rowan. (Lots of Mountain Ash where I've been in Wales.) This scene is going to look very different next month!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. VP7 September 2014 at 10:44

      We have rowan and hawthorn further along Lucy and the colours do indeed echo the clematis flowers. Sadly the ash only has lots of seeds which I then have to pull up every year! Autumn's here already - the maples have changed and I've had to sweep our front drive this week. I reckon it's the earliest I've done that.

      Delete
  2. Sue Garrett7 September 2014 at 10:37

    Do you cut the clematis hard back each year?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. VP7 September 2014 at 10:45

      Hi Sue, yes I do. It happens whilst I'm cutting the Rambling Rector back really hard as I'm using the rose a its support.

      Delete
  3. Pauline7 September 2014 at 21:48

    The clematis look so lovely climbing up your ash tree, so pretty.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. VP8 September 2014 at 19:12

      Thanks Pauline - I was admiring it in full sunshine this morning :)

      Delete
  4. CJ7 September 2014 at 22:22

    The clematis is beautiful, and I've heard good things about Rambling Rector as well. No doubt it's tricky keeping them under control though, especially once they've got high up out of reach.

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    Replies
    1. VP8 September 2014 at 19:14

      Rambling Rector is very vigorous, so was a great choice for clothing a long fence which needed to keep people out of the garden. However, it's just slightly too vigorous and the promised hips aren't happening as well as they should. Hence my reluctant rethinking of what needs to go there.

      Delete
  5. Donna9 September 2014 at 01:09

    I love the look of a clematis or rose climbing a tree as long as the tree likes it too.

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    Replies
    1. VP9 September 2014 at 08:08

      Good point Donna - some roses e.g. Kiftsgate can overwhelm a smaller tree, though they do look spectacular draped over larger subjects. I don't let my clematis and rose get to that stage.

      Delete
  6. Caro9 September 2014 at 15:55

    Lovely to see flowers growing up through the tree. I've tried to do the same with a clematis growing through my cherry tree. The clematis did very well this year, it's second; I'm wondering now whether the cherry tree will be big enough for it next year. Can clematis be transplanted, do you know?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. VP10 September 2014 at 20:44

      HI Caro, I've never tried it. I think it should be possible in the autumn if you dig carefully to keep as many roots as possible and then keep it well watered whilst it settles down. Worth a try?

      Delete
  7. chloris10 September 2014 at 22:25

    Do you find that the ash seedings come up everywhere? I used to have one in my old garden and it drove me crazy with carpets of young trees.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. VP11 September 2014 at 09:09

      I do indeed chloris! One of my previous Tree Following posts showed how I miss some of them too. I had a 5ft high tree grow before I noticed it was there :o

      Delete

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