newsletter issue 3, summer 2008

www.raymondevisonclematis.com
NEWSLETTER
ISSUE 3, SUMMER 2008
GENERAL NEWS
As mentioned in my June newsletter, clematis Rebecca Evipo016(N) was the star of
our 2008 Chelsea Flower Show exhibit. Certainly, it has continued to sell extremely well
in garden centres and we continually receive comments from people, who are growing
this exceptional new clematis how pleased they are with its performance as a plant and
how marvellous the colour is.
One container-grown plant that we used at Mille
Fleurs, a rather super Guernsey home and prizewinning garden, to launch the April Floral Guernsey
spring week, has only just stopped flowering. After
Matthew Wilson s lead tour of the garden, the
container was moved to the Fermain Valley Hotel for
its official Guernsey launch before Chelsea. Steve
Pestana, the head gardener, tells me the plant
flowered continuously and still had a few new
growths coming into flower by nearly the end of July,
so April to mid July in a fairly hot spot proves what a
useful plant this is turning out to be.
c. Rebecca
Evipo016(N)
Valerie Easton, who is a freelance journalist, living in Seattle, USA, also writes for the
Seattle Times and e-mailed me recently to say Rebecca is an amazing color even your
beautiful slides didn t do her justice . I m sure the clematis will attain an even better and
deeper flower colour in the hot sunshine of North America.
SHOWS
RHS Inner Temple Show
11th/12th/13th September
At the nursery, Chris Ozanne and his team are preparing our clematis plants for the new
RHS Inner Temple Show in London. The show will be open to the public from the 11th
13th September 2008. For full details of this show, log on to the RHS web site
www.rhs.org.uk/WhatsOn/Events/innertemple.htm
However, visitors to the show will not be able to see our latest creations but the old
cultivars from pre-1900 on our exhibit. Some of our branded clematis will be shown on
the Thorncroft Clematis Nursery exhibit and these will be available to purchase.
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We too will have our Evison®
and
Poulsen®
Boulevard
clematis for sale from our
exhibit.
Our exhibit will
feature clematis raised before
1900 and include clematis
Jackmanii . This exceptional
clematis was raised by
Jackmans
of
Woking,
England, exactly 150 years
ago in 1858.
It was first
exhibited at an RHS show in
about 1862. Other clematis
featured on our exhibit include
c. Miss Bateman 1860, Mrs
c. The President
Cholmondeley
1873,
The
President 1876 and Sir Trevor Lawrence 1890. Sir
Trevor was a former President of the RHS. Come
along and see these historic clematis from our
collection of old clematis cultivars.
c. Miss Bateman
c. Jackmanii
TALKS AND DEMONSTRATIONS
Chelsea Physic Garden
20th August
On 20th August, I will be giving a talk on my new book Clematis for Small Spaces . The
talk will take place at Chelsea Physic Garden in London commencing at 6.45 p.m. and is
free to Friends of Chelsea Physic Garden.
Haskins Garden Centres
30th/31st August
I will be at the Haskins Garden Centres on the following dates to give demonstrations and
sign my new book.
Saturday 30th August at 2.00 p.m.
Sunday, 31st August at 2.00 pm.
Haskins Garden Centre
Longham
Ferndown
Dorset BH22 9DG
Tel: 01202 591919
Haskins Garden Centre
Snowhill Lane
Copthorne,
West Sussex RH10 3EY
Tel: 01342 712545
RHS Wisley, Woking
6th/7th September
I will be giving presentations at 11.30 a.m. and 2.30 p.m. on both days at the RHS Plant
Centre and signing books. The presentations are free but gather early if you want to be
sure of a seat. Wisley Plant Centre opening times will be 9.30 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. on
Saturday and 10.30 a.m. (10.00 a.m. for 30 minutes browsing) 4.30 p.m. on Sunday.
There will be a wonderful array of clematis to choose from and lots of advice on hand.
Log on to the RHS web site http://www.rhs.org.uk/wisleyplantcentre/plant-events.htm for
further details.
RHS Inner Temple Show
11th/13th September
I will be on our exhibit at the RHS Inner Temple Show to speak to visitors and sell and
sign books.
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PLANT OF THE MONTH
For August/September, I recommend the following clematis:
Petit Faucon Evisix, Bonanza
and Ooh La La Evipo041(N)
Evipo031(N), Galore
Evipo032(N), Fleuri
Evipo042(N)
All of these clematis will be available from our stockist garden centres.
Clematis Petit Faucon
Evisix
This plant raised some years ago in Guernsey is a
marvellous mixed border plant flowering mid summer
to mid autumn. It only grows to about 1m (40 ) and
has very deep purple nodding flowers with a dramatic
yellow centre. It can be allowed to flop around on top
or through other low growing, grey, golden or
variegated shrubs or just mixed with other perennial
plants. It also looks splendid when growing through an
obelisk made of birch or hazel branches. Hard prune
each year in early spring.
c. Petit Faucon
Clematis Bonanza
Evisix
Evipo031(N)
This, fairly new clematis is an ideal plant for the
smaller garden. It only grows to about 2m (6 ) but is
very free flowering and can be grown in a border as
recommended for c. Petit Faucon above, or used as
a container plant for the patio or deck garden. It is
most useful as a container plant as it starts flowering
in mid summer and continues for some months.
c. Bonanza
Clematis Galore
Evipo031(N)
Its purple/mauve flowers are only about 6cm (2.5 )
in diameter but they are produced in great
abundance and blend perfectly with grey foliage
shrubs. Hard prune each spring to 15cm (6 ).
Evipo032(N)
A very free flowering viticella type clematis with
flopping purple/blue flowers. An extremely useful plant
for growing with roses, either climbers, ramblers or the
old fashioned botanical roses. It can also be useful for
giving added colour to spring flowering small trees and
shrubs when they are not flowering during mid summer
to early autumn. A vigorous, strong growing clematis
which is not ideal for using with low growing, ground
cover plants due to its mass of growth. It can be used
most successfully on large 2-2.5m (6-8 ) metal obelisks
in a wide mixed border to give added structure and
height. Hard prune each spring to about 15cm (6 ).
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c. Galore
Evipo032(N)
Clematis Fleuri
Evipo042(N)
A stunning addition to the Evison® and Poulsen®
Boulevard clematis collection. Growing only to 1.20m
(4 ), making it ideal for container culture for the smaller
garden. Due to its strongly coloured deep purple
flowers, it is most suited to be grown in full sunshine,
on a patio and deck. Looks great with grey or yellow
foliage host plants, flowering from early summer to
early autumn with a break during hot weather. Hard
prune each spring to 15cm (6 ).
c. Fleuri
Clematis Ooh La La
Evipo042(N)
Evipo041(N)
This pretty pink/mauve striped flower can fade in
strong sunshine but is marvellous for brightening up
a shady north facing location. A very useful addition
to the Boulevard collection growing to only about
1.2m (4 ), it grows very well in a container or in a
garden location. Very free flowering from early
summer to early autumn, with a break during hot
weather, the flowers are only 7/8 cm (3.5/4 ) across
but they are produced in great abundance. Hard
prune each spring down to 15cm (6 ).
c. Ooh La La
Evipo041(N)
RAYMOND EVISON® CLEMATIS BRAND
Our garden centre stockists in the UK and North America have enjoyed very good sales
with our branded plants this spring and summer, despite the unseasonable weather. If
you have not visited one of our brand plants stockists garden centres so far, do check on
http://www.raymondevisonclematis.com/main/stockists.asp and you can visit your nearest
garden centre that stocks our Raymond Evison® branded plants.
The clematis included in the Raymond Evison® Clematis brand have been specially
selected as being some of the best clematis available for a range of different garden
locations.
Included are clematis for a normal sized garden to grow through roses and other wall
trained shrubs, clematis for borders to mix with other free standing shrubs or to clamber
through herbaceous perennial plants, or simply to grow on obelisks to give added height
and interest in the border.
Other clematis selected are ideal for the much smaller town or city garden where they
can be grown in the soil or in containers for the patio or balcony, even ones for the
smallest garden.
All varieties are easy to grow and are long flowering, giving the home owner the chance
to add value and colour to any part of the garden whether in sunny or shady positions.
There is a vast array of clematis to choose from today. We have selected the very best.
They perform well are easy to grow, easy and simple to prune and give the best value for
money by the sheer volume of flowers they produce over a long period of time.
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PURCHASING CLEMATIS FROM THE GARDEN CENTRE
During August and September, look out for clematis Petit Faucon Evisix, Bonanza
Evipo031(N), Galore Evipo032(N), Fleuri Evipo042(N) and Ooh La La Evipo041(N).
To be sure you purchase the Raymond Evison® clematis
branded plants, firstly look out for the Raymond Evison®
Logo and Raymond s golden signature on the midnight
blue background.
All the branded plants are grown in a 3 litre or 1½ litre midnight blue pot. Each plant is
grown on a ladder bamboo cane and has a gift tag blue label, again in midnight blue with
Raymond s signature on it.
CLEMATIS BOOK
Sales of Raymond Evison s book Clematis for Small Spaces
have been very good indeed, with most favourable reviews. It is
already being reprinted. It features over 150 of the best
performing clematis for patios, decks, balconies and borders.
"A clear and easy-to-understand review of the genus, especially
useful to garden designers, landscapers and garden centre
buyers. It is also a valuable reference work for anyone needing
help to choose a clematis for a specific situation or time of year."
--John Hoyland, Gardens Illustrated, February 2008
"For both connoisseur and rookie."
--Graham Andrews, The North Devon Journal, 28 February 2008
The following quotes are all taken from a review in Garden News 20 February 2008:
"If you're struggling to choose a clematis or you're just plain scared of these plants, then
this is a fantastic book to get you started."
"International nurseryman and clematis devote Raymond Evison uses his critical eye and
knowledge to help you choose plants that really deserve garden space...He's out to
expose which clematis offer real value for money."
"Written in a clear and concise way."
"[The colour photographs] will leave even the most cold-hearted of gardeners deeply in
love with these plants."
This comprehensive reference contains easy-to-follow advice on caring for container
grown plants, pruning the different types of clematis the simple way, about providing
crucial shade to the root systems, propagation techniques, combining clematis with other
plants and much more.
Beautifully illustrated with 150 colour pictures, the long-awaited book will appeal to
everyone from seasoned experts to gardeners discovering clematis for the very first time.
The book can be ordered on-line through www.raymondevisonclematis.com.
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TIPS FROM RAYMOND FOR AUGUST/SEPTEMBER
1.
As many of the early flowering clematis will now be resting during the hot sunshine
of August after their burst of spring and early summer flowers, work still needs to be
done to achieve more flowers during late August, September and October:
a)
Don t forget to water your plants.
b)
Continue or renew the feeding so that new growth can be generated and
further flowers produced. Tomato or rose feeds are ideal for the purpose.
c)
Remove any dead or damaged leaves.
d)
I always prefer to leave about 50% of the seed heads produced by the early
flowering clematis. These, themselves, are most attractive and give additional
interest to the plant. Some can be cut for summer flower arrangements or just
left until autumn and then dried for winter decorations.
2.
I know many people have continued to plant newly purchased clematis during the
summer months. Don t forget to water these newly planted clematis and, if you
have not given them some shade to their root systems, do so now please.
3.
As a nurseryman, I should not be encouraging you to propagate your own
clematis but if seed of the early flowering species are ripening on your garden
plants, now or soon is the time to collect these seeds, store them in your fridge
and sow them in December or early January.
Clematis species generally produce seedlings that are true to type but, of course,
the hybrid or cultivar clematis, being hybrids, do not come true from seed but will
produce some interesting coloured seedlings. These are fun to try if you have
space in a gold glasshouse or cold frame but don t be too successful!!!
4.
Continue to plan for the future. Now is the time to look around your garden, see
what plant combinations with clematis have worked well for you. Look for host
plants that could be adorned with clematis next year and look for other places to
plant new clematis. Plant in September or October in mild climates. This will
reduce watering next spring. The soils are still warm and your newly planted
clematis will start to establish before the winter.
Enjoy the end of summer and the late flowering clematis.
Hopefully, I might see you at some of the venues I will be attending.
I m sorry that time did not allow for a July newsletter.
Look out for the October newsletter where you can learn about
looking after your clematis over winter.
Raymond Evison
www.raymondevison.com
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