'Viva Polonia' was available at Home Depot in '21, it shows good depth of color and quite fade resistant, though at the time I had dished out plenty much on plants and begrudgingly left it behind. Snapped it up late last summer on discount feeling no regret, lol.

Thanks for that @FrozeBudd_z3/4. Doing some searching I got the impression that it was and maybe will be again, available at HD. I have an obelisk that needs a clematis and I think that VP will be that plant. Do you have it under an obelisk or against a wall or...? (Let me know if yours survived the winter.)

I situated it next to a west facing deck and will support it with branches or garden string tied to the deck. I sure hope it survives, will be disappointed otherwise, will mention so either way.

Hey @FrozeBudd_z3/4, any sign of your VP (or maybe it is still early given your "rough and tumble" location).

Has been a slow spring up until now, though a near stellar ten day forecast shall bring spring on fast and furious, Rouge, sorry for your forecast looking like a real bummer! ;). Ohhh, about the clematis, the top growth is dead as I had expected it would be, though I dug down a bit to see new shoots coming. I'm not pleased with just how sticky the soil is feelng in this location, need to install a small eavestrough along the edge of the deck or do something to prevent an overly saturated site.

BTW, how's your 'Rain Dance"? I now have about seven of them, two purchased plants and five cuttings that took nicely last year. Really love this blue beauty !!

Rouge, sorry for your forecast looking like a real bummer! ;).

No sorry at all @FrozeBudd_z3/4 as the cool and rainy conditions have been perfecting for moving perennials and planting newly acquired hydrangeas, which I have done so much the past couple of weeks. (As long as the temp doesn't get too low I am good with this continuing forecast.)

BTW, how's your 'Rain Dance"? I now have about seven of them

Ay caramba! Just curious how you support them, if at all, given they are non-vining?

The first year I had a RD was in 2021 and it grew so well in its first year in a container no less (with a small obelisk). But I got cocky re its vigour and made the mistake of leaving it in this container and leaving the container outside all winter, although I did move it to a sheltered spot...but it died :(. So I picked up another last spring and planted it in the ground. It didn't do much at all last season but I am pleased to see that it is alive and looking just fine.

I took this picture this morning:

(chicken wire due to the rabbits :( )

I must be diligent keeping them at bay!

Can I ask what you do to deter the deer?

For nearly fifteen years, ScareCrow Sprinklers have been on protective garden patrol, these are a bit finicky and must not be positioned where taller plants that sway in the wind will repeatedly trigger the motion activated control and cause unnecessary battery drain. With the supply chain disruptions and global conflicts, I don't know if these are even now available, I'll have to search out other brands. I also use homemade stinky spray on solutions in areas the sprinklers are not in range of. Despite living in the thick of deer country, with these actions I only end up with very scant damage from grazing deer.

Ahhh, 'Viva Polonia is a beauty, reallly nice blooms of bright wine red with some white towards the center and red/purple stamens add additional drama, a flower that draws the eye from afar!

Pictures please @FrozeBudd_z3/4!

I am still without a camera after my rather expensive Canon went down after accidently giving it a bit of a bump that caused it to come up with an error message. Phoned into the camera repair shop, they ship it out to Canon and cost would be in the ballpark of $350.00 ... forget it, I'll purchase a less expensive new camera for that price! Besides, we just had a heck of a downpour with small hail, blooms are probably messed up, the moisture is welcome though.

Some late season blooms on this first year plant:

I should have cut back hard and fertilized after flowering to force a second flush, next year will do so.

Photo a bit over exposed, but a lovely variety it is!

Nice pics @FrozeBudd_z3/4.

UPDATE (June 2024):

For the first time, some June blooms.

Mine had a pokey spring, thought it might even perish, it's situated where water from the deck pours down, need to do something about that, but of late it has NOT been raining! As for 'Polona', it vigor and bloom capability has surprised, this one is considered as optional pruning, but it sure can throw those buds many nodes down the stems just as well as any type III. Went and broke one nice stem off when giving it support, though if all goes well and barring any hail, I'll post when finally it does bloom.