I really love the cottage garden look with many other plants mixed in with the roses. I wish I were better at that, but they all seem to die on me sooner or later. That fuzzy clematis is adorable.

Lisa, I love your "look", too. The Duchess is such a perfect pink. What clematis do you have to choose from? One that I've been interested in is a fairly new one, a gorgeous shortish pink, named "Abilene". I think it's an Evison clem. I cannot believe the choices out there--I would go nuts. Diane

Wow , so beautiful and really my style ! I love that clematis , doubles just started interesting me . I planted 8 myself this spring , really looking forward to the extra color ! Do share more photos when you can !

do you have a blue clematis? I love blue mixed with pink , I think the duchess will love that :)

So Beautiful! Loved it, thanks for sharing!

Wow! I love your Mary & clematis combo. Just beautiful. Your garden looks great!! Judy

Beautiful, Lisa! Carol

So, so pretty, Lisa!

Thanks, everyone. I'm trying to use a lot of self seeding native annuals this year, especially the ones that come up with winter rain and don't need much additional water. I'll list my tableful of clematis available for Duchess de B this evening, once I have dinner done and over with:) Lisa

That clematis looks so soft and fuzzy... I want to pet it! It looks like a muppet! It's such a happy little flower... It should have a smiling face and google eyes!

Whatever you do will be beautiful Lisa. Your garden is lovely.

Lisa, that is lovely - utterly charming. I wish my Duchess looked like yours.

And Carol, I had never thought of putting aubergine next to her (though there are actually some aubergines growing near her, as I have 2 of her backing the veggie patch!). I have a heliotrope growing in the middle of them, but I think your idea of aubergine would be luscious.

Trish

I never thought of planting eggplant there either. It is a pretty plant, and it certainly fits in with my random cottage style.

Diane, I just looked at clematis Abilene. I really like it, but I don't have it, surprisingly, as I love those pinks.

Now that I have written up a list of all the clematis I need to plant, I am rather horrified. Its almost as bad as roses, not quite, but still pretty bad. Well here goes...

2 Diamantina: purple/Fountain: same a

I am SO frustrated!! My book touched something on my laptop and I watch my post being erased, line by line, from the bottom up. When I hit submit, it stopped and sent what was left. Well, it's been a long day at two different Dr's offices, so I think I'll just continue tomorrow. Goodnight all. Lisa

Lisa, how annoying - and to have to watch it as well!

I think Carol was meaning the colour aubergine would look great with D de B. I confused things by saying I actually had the vegetable growing near.

That's a clematis I don't know, how charming,...lovely photos Lisa, sorry about your computer problems... it happens to me too.... sometimes I just have to laugh..

Ah, Trish, thanks for clearing that up. The color makes MUCH more sense than the actual plant, Aubergine. The color I can easily see using, with the Duchess. The eggplant wasn't something I was going to actually try, but who knows, it is ornamental in its own way. I'm so silly. It's a perfect suggestion now! Thank you, Carol. One of the Clem's I purchased is called Mrs Yuki. The picture surely looked to be an aubergine color. It's so hard to tell, though. I think you may have sparked my interest in adding a bit of drama to the Duchess. I lean heavily towards the pastels. I think I choose colors much like Ingrid's. I have always chosen softer, cool colors, with an occasional brighter "pop" here and there. I usually make sure the brighter pop is an annual so that it's not a permanent resident in my garden. Like the bright red poppy near the Duchess, is very "un me" but very soon it will be too warm, and it will be gone. If I like the way an annual looks, I let some seed fall and maybe collect some. If I don't care for it. I deadhead promptly to make sure I never see it again.

Yes Marlorena, sometimes I just have to laugh too. I was NOT laughing last night. That's when I know it's best to stop and pick up again later. I can at least smile about it now as I type:) Still, all those clematis listed, many with descriptions, because I thought it rude to expect people to look them up. Ah well, I'm up for it again today. I am however, cautious. I shall first submit this part. Then I will settle in and retype my list of clematis with their colors. Lisa

Sorry,I don't know how this one ended up on top. Please ignor the mess. I just had 3 Queen palms and a 50 foot hedge dug out last week. Look at all my new empty space!

Ok here is what I have in potted clematis:

2 Diamantina: very double, Blue/purple 4"-6"blooms. 8'-10' long. Layers and layers of petals

Crystal Fountain: Shown above with Mary Rose. More purple with more sun

Ninon: White 3"-4" wavy-edged flowers with red anthers. Compact and on the short side

Mrs. Robert Brydon: 1" tiny lavender/blue flowers with big creamy stamens. Rambling habit. 6'-8' long. Kind of a ground cover type.

2 Sapphire Indigo: 5" Deep, dark blooms. Very compact. 3x3 Non climbing.

2 Red Star: 4"-6" fully double magenta pink w/ butter yellow anthers. 4'-6' long

Picardy: 4" Rouge/Purple flowers. 4' long

Rosalie: I think I'm really going to like this one. First flowers are a deep, two-toned rose color. Flowers then take on a multitude of pink shades all blooming at the same time. As it fades, it has a two-toned lavender/pink color. 7' in length

Texensis Etolile Rose: Small nodding, bell shaped blooms by the 100's. Deep pink. 8'-12' tall.

Florida Seboldii: White with violet centers, 6'-8' long

Mrs. Yuki: Jewel toned, purple/reddish Deep colored. 6'-8' long bright yellow stamens

Franziska Maria: very double purple

Roguchi: 2" cobalt blue/purple bells with paler edges. 6' long

Empress: Shell pink with big fluffy pink boss, like Crystal Fountain in the above pictures w/ Mary Rose

Ok, that's what I have to chose from. The one that most closely looks to be augbergin would be Mrs Yuki. I have such a hard time deciding. The Duchess is getting one of these, but I can't make up my mind. Please help:)

I did take a few more random garden pics this evening.

Two more photos These are also blooming at Duchess d B's feet.