As a pretty avid gardener, please do not worry about making 'mistakes'. The fun of gardening is to get plants you're not familiar with, to grow. Maybe you'll not get the optimal growth, but as long as you don't out-and-out kill the plant, have fun with it ---- you want the plant to thrive and bloom. Don't get hung up with doing everything 100% right.

Thank you. I have become obsessed with clematis. I look at the retail websites for what is or will be available, I buy books and read them. I spend hours on this forum...so far I am reading the 34th page back on this forum. My DH is not quite sure what to think about it.
Kay

Kay ...welcome to the world of Clematis Fanatics!! The main thing to remember is that Clematis LOVE to have their roots stay moist...if not...they will die..so in choosing places to plant them..keep that in mind..also remember they take a good 3 years to be glorious. So never allow those inbetween years to discourage you.Even if they wilt and seem as if they have died..always keep watering that spot and they will 99% of the time come back!!...Jeanne

Jeanne,
thank you so much for answering me. I have read so many of the messages you have written on this forum over the last couple of years.

I actually had two clematis that I knew little about,and they had been just sitting in my yard for three years until this year when I was overwhelmed by the beautiful blossoming of one of them. I now own five clematis, and have ordered 12 more from Chalk Hill and I am making a list to order from Silver Star. After all, she is having a sale, right?

DH just shakes his head.

Also, I am now diligently watering the clematis that had survived not only my neglect, but the drought we've had here the last couple of years. They did receive water pretty regularly since I watered the border they were in, but they didn't get a lot of fertilizer of any kind.

Hopefully they appreciate the new routine.

Kay