I have to agree with Linda about the pruning BorS. In fact, I think I remember you saying that you had quite a few type II clematis that were rather puny and nonproductive flowerwise until you started hard pruning them. The sooner you start, the sooner you will get more vines and the resultant flowers from plants that are pruned hard the first year or two in the ground. This is something I have harped on for as long as I have been posting about clematis.

Oh yes, I agree with her and you.

I figured you did but I know that many here are still so hesistant to prune clematis back since they are so insistent on getting blooms immediately--it's that immediate gratification thing going on! LOL

So what does the collection look like? Are the clematis planted in a garden setting with companion plants? Are the clematis all in pots in a green house? How many clematis are there? Where there many clematis blooming? Anything rare and unusual? What did you think of it? I am just wondering if it is worth driving down there and looking? When do you think would be the best time of year to visit? Thanks! Karen

Some are planted in a garden setting with companion plants. There is an old farmhouse and they planted old cultivars that might have been there way back when.

Most are in pots in the greenhouse and outside of the greenhouse.

There are several hundred, some only found in the US in this collection. They are going to propagate and sell the rare ones eventually.

No, it isn't worth driving down and looking, YET. It is going to be fantastic but most of the Clems are still very small or have been hard pruned. I did take some photos and will post the link here after I get them uploaded to Photobucket.

it is going to be a neat resource for seeing clems in a garden setting when it matures.

Thanks for the info. I will be looking forward to seeing your photo's. I guess I will wait a few years before making the drive down there to see the clematis. Karen

Is this the same Rogerson that posts all the extra information on certain cultivars on COTW? The same guy that donated a clem to Brushwood nursery, or was it Joy Creek? Nonetheless, I'd be very interested in seeing the pics as well...if you have the spare time.

Yep, it is the same Rogerson who has written articles on various clematis that you can access on the bottom of some of the entry pages on COTW.

Yes, he had his collection stored at a local nursery that sold and it had to be moved. A group was formed to raise money to find a new home for the vast collection and they are now planting them around an old farmhouse.

I still haven't uploaded the pics. Sorry but they aren't all that interesting. It will be soooo much nicer in a couple of years.