Let me take you back to early spring and I will tell you a tragic tale with a happy ending.
It was lecture day for the North Devon Plant Heritage group, always popular not only for the informative speakers but also for fiendish quizzes, delicious fruit crumble & custard and eclectic raffles. As soon as I walked into the room I spotted him. There he was, standing aloof on the raffle table, along with books, chocolates, paintings and primulas. It was Pelargonium ‘Lord Bute’ in all his noble beauty. This Regal Pelargonium has large blooms the colour of a black hole and he was soon to be mine. He had to be mine. I purchased as many tickets as possible without drawing attention to my fervour and waited for the end of the day when I would pick up my prize. I tried to concentrate on the day’s proceedings, but again and again my thoughts slipped back to this tall, dark, handsome chap. The time came for the draw and clutching onto my ticket with a vice like grip I waited for my lucky number to be called. As each ticket was drawn I winced as others leapt up jubilant and attacked the table of goodies. One by one the victors walked past clutching their prizes, in their ignorance none had taken my man. All is safe, I kept telling myself, this time it will be my moment of glory. Then a shout of glee and one of my near neighbours and friend presented her evidence to the invigilator with a joyful flourish. In slow motion she strode towards the prizes, considered her decision for what seemed like a few hours, finally picking his Lordship up and retraced her steps. My heart sunk. This wasn’t the happy ending I had ordered. How could this have happened?
As she passed my seat I whispered, in what I hoped to be my most menacing tone, “cuttings!”. She gave me a jolly little wave and mouthed “yes, come around anytime”. I think I will have to work on my menacing tone.
Today, many weeks later, I visited to take cuttings of this beautiful plant, yet to flower but looking very healthy. He lives in a wonderful space full of horticultural gems which are tended by true garden lovers. His guardians are also the owners of two adorable dogs and makers of some amazing homemade biscuits. It couldn’t have gone to a better home. Well except mine perhaps. It was here that I came across this herbaceous clematis, label lost in her voluptuous skirts, but perhaps Clematis stans. I now have a new object of desire. Fickle? What me?
Off The Edge Gardening 
Believe me, I sweat it out with you hoping for the best. Can’t say that I know what His Lordship looks like, but this lovely lavender gem surely is a grandiose substitute. The fruit crumble and custard sounded good too. I think it’s lunchtime.
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You can’t beat a good crumble!
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This is a really nice Clematis! I also have many ‘objects’ of desire on my list 🙂 – thanks for adding one more!
(I am not familiar with C. stans – will google)
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Not certain that it is, but looks very similar, apparently it is quite variable so could be a cultivar …..
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Lord Bute is gorgeous but very fickle with me…😣
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Doesn’t flower?
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Yes, the tall, dark and handsome Lord Bute had absolutely no staying power in my possession, I must have let him down somewhere. Now I have a cutting from a friend of something completely different and new to me, P gibbosum with grey-green leaves and small yellow flowers.
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Oh yes, we had that at Cliffe, a peculiar little chap!
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I shall see how he develops, I have nothing against peculiar little chaps, no aspersions about Mt TT intended!
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Ha! 🙂 I’m telling!
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Lovely writing.I yearn for your exotic plants and the knowledge that goes with.I have just had a bush clematis, that I thought I would nurture in my potting shed before planting in my wilderness, eaten by slugs……..nothing left but a bare stalklet
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Oh dear, any life left at all? Bet they thought you have left them a tasty snack! And thanks 🙂
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Don’t give up, with a bit of TLC climbing clematis can sprout up from the roots again after complete decimation, I have been there. I hope your bush clematis might recover as well.
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Such is the lot of the gardener. Smitten again and again, even though there’s no space in the garden, not even the tiniest spot. The mania gets worse every year.
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There is no hope for us …..
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It is our cross to bear. Sigh.
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Lord Bute is indeed very handsome, but he never stays around long with me. He doesn’ t appreciate the winter care I offer him. He is an aristocrat with finicikity tastes. Another beauty that I am fond of is Pelargonium ‘ Ardens’, just as miffy and difficult to propagate, but gorgeous. Oh, I love that clematis.
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I am beginning to wonder quite what I have got myself into, he sounds very disreputable!
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