{in the Garden} Autumn Clematis

With the hottest summer on record for Chicago this year (weeks and weeks of 90's+, humidity that never ended, and rain the came in multiple inches at a time or not at all) the garden did not fair well. Plants either bloomed early or not at all. And to add to the misery, Japanese beetles dined all summer ... this will result in grubs next year. So now its time to cut back, begin the fall cleaning, plant the spring bulbs and dream of next year. But even in the worst garden year there are still surprises ... this morning an Autumn Clematis which self-seeded itself and grew up the gutter is in full bloom. It's spicy honey scent filling the early morning cool air. An ah! moment for a weary gardener. ENJOY!