Raymond Evison
The following post and photographs are by guest writer and fellow Northwesterner,
More gardeners are faced with smaller yards and less time to tend to them. Many desire the wildly beautiful clematis, but the plant’s poor performance and weird pruning requirements turn them off for good. Raymond Evison is doing what he can to end the clematis confusion.
Evison lives in Guernsey on the English Channel off the coast of France. He is the owner of the The Guernsey Clematis Nursery, Ltd. and is also involved in an extensive clematis breeding program. He carries a number of other impressive titles and awards associated with his work, including the Order of the British Empire.
During the nurseryman’s well-attended visit to Powell’s Books in Beaverton, Oregon, Evison talked about his new book, Clematis for Small Spaces. It introduces over 150 new cultivars, many of which are smaller and more profusely flowering. Evison said, “I wanted to produce clematis for the future that would be easier to grow.” Also important to him are long flowering periods and disease resistant plants with attractive flowers and foliage.
He emphasized that the book is a great resource for the new and inexperienced gardener, and gives care and planting instructions, as well as suggestions for placement. Acknowledging that “People get jolly confused about the pruning of clematis,” he mentioned that the book features three different “pruning groups,” (early-season, midseason and late-Season flowering) with clear pruning instructions for each type of group.
Evison had an affable approach and brought his audience some laughter along with enlightening ideas on clematis. He stayed to sign his books, and the audience participated in a drawing to win one of the 2008 clematis cultivars.
The Portland area may experience a surge in clematis sales this year. Those busy but newly-informed gardeners might feel more freedom to indulge, thanks to Raymond Evison.
