A dedication to the clematis

The loveliest flower I’ve ever seen, Clematis 'Marie Boisselot'

One of my clients gardens has a naughty neighbour who doesn’t maintain their garden. On occasion, I tidy and deadhead their roses and cut back any rampant mahonia branches which sprout over the low brick wall.

Their garden is a huge mass of mahonias, roses and aucuba. I’ve grown quite fond of it, making a great habitat for nesting birds and a place for t…