Priory Picture Post # 15

Mahonia isn’t the prettiest shrub in the land.  Indeed, when I’ve speared my fingers for the umpteenth time on it’s dead leaves, I tend to be even more dismissive of it’s charms.

An easy and effective way to prettify it, is to do as I do and nick an idea from someone else.

At Great Dixter they grow the trickily named Clematis x triternata ‘Rubromarginata’ over mahonia.

It is a generous flowerer, putting on a fine show from July through to now – the end of September. 

And unlike many clematis, it smells wonderful.  Even a rain shower won’t diminish a beautiful, strong, almond scent.  oooOOOoooSorry.  I have had to start watermarking my photos – a step I’d hoped to avoid.  But I recently had the upsetting experience of finding one of my photos on another website and surprise, surprise my polite email of protest ignored.  I suppose I ought to be flattered and not just ANGRY.  Hmm, The Angry Gardener – now, there’s an idea.