Clematis montana rubens

What a spectacle!  This is one of the reasons for my unending gladness of living in Exeter, it simply oozes history.  I finished my pint of cider today, enjoyed in the Ship Inn in St Martin’s Lane, previous customers include Sir Francis Drake – it dates back to the time of Elizabeth I.  Think oak beams, uneven floors…  Elizabethan houses were built to last, unlike the crap being erected since world war II. “Little boxes made of ticky tacky, little boxes all the same”. Why do we put up with this crap?

I digress, whilst walking back to my car in the sunshine I was simply taken aback by the wonderful blooms of the Clematis which are presently draping themselves all over the ruins of St Catherine’s Alms-house, itself founded in 1495, sorry I’m not a huge history buff, but I have been tripping over these ruins since I was 19, so have read the plaque.

I believe the Clematis to be of the Montana variety perhaps rubens?  I would be pleased if anyone can put me right.  The name Clematis has its etymological roots in the Greek word klema meaning a vine branch.  A good descriptive name given its viney penchant for twirling and climbing in its pursuit of happiness.  A hardy plant that lifts the spirits every spring without fail.  A member of the Anemoneae tribe, very easy to please and often used by gardeners to hide ugly sheds, the roots however must be in shade.  They are therefore happiest when they have a paving slab close by so their roots are kept nice and cool.