Constellations of clematis at Janet Aaberg Garden
Glorious clematis vines greeted us at nearly every garden we visited during the Madison Fling last month, but Janet Aaberg’s garden stepped it up a notch. Thirty-two different varieties of these starry-flowered vines grow in her garden, and every one appeared to be in full bloom.
This nodding blue clematis greeted us in the sunny back garden.
It’s hard to see in this bright-sun photo, but it’s trellised on a shed with a garage door brightened up with a sunflower mural.
A much bigger purple clematis scrambles up the side of the building.
Just look at all those flowers!
And here I’ve been feeling proud of the sputtering blooms on my own two or three clematis vines eking out an existence under the Texas Death Star.
There were also tall delphiniums to admire.
But back to the star of the show, at least for me.
I love ’em all. And notice the dragonfly perching on the garden ornament in the foreground.
Speaking of garden art, Janet has a fun collection.
I admired this circular arbor too — a moon gate to a pergola-shaded sitting area in the center of the garden.
More lovely clematis
And lilies
These beauties are widely grown in Madison gardens too.
Janet displayed this charming chalk sign to welcome us to her garden. On the reverse, another message expressed thanks for including her on the tour. Thank YOU, Janet, for sharing your delightful garden with us!
Up next: The shady, smile-inducing garden of Jim Ottney and Jay Hatheway. For a look back at Allen Centennial Garden, a free public garden on the UW campus, click here.
__________________________
Digging Deeper
Come learn about gardening and design at Garden Spark! I organize in-person talks by inspiring designers, landscape architects, authors, and gardeners a few times a year in Austin. These are limited-attendance events that sell out quickly, so join the Garden Spark email list to be notified in advance; simply click this link and ask to be added. Season 8 kicks off in fall 2024. Stay tuned for more info!
All material © 2024 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
Yes, she has quite a collection, doesn’t she? Collections of so many types of plants, but the Clematis and Lilies were impressive during the Fling.
They really were. Your summer is like spring here, with so much in bloom.
Love the Clematis, especially that nodding blue variety in the first 2 photos.
And it was so pretty against that sunflower mural.
I never looked at that clematis as part of my mural. I certainly appreciate seeing my gardens from all the different angles of pictures taken at the fling.
Hi Pam, I really like the detailed descriptions you always include with your great photos. Also, that you include plenty of photos! What a beautiful garden. I have to ask- is that rooster sculpture as big as it looks?! Not much luck for me here in San Diego (La Mesa) with clematis. I may have tried once years ago and gave up. Too hot and dry.
I so enjoy your blog and I get endless ideas as I click on post after post and lose track of where I started!
The flying chicken is balanced 5 feet off the ground. Her wing span is 5 feet. She rocks in the breeze. Total height 6 1/2 feet.
Thanks Janet- wow, and thanks for sharing your garden!
Janet, do you have to protect your clematis from rabbits? Or deer?
I definitely have to protect from many rabbits. Each plant has a chicken wire fence around the base. Deer not so much in my suburban neighborhood.
Ah, the clematis are delightful! If only my deer would let me grow them!
I would have enjoyed getting lost in all of the clematis.