Patience

Sometimes, you just have to have faith.  I admit that I don't always have it even though I've been given many opportunities to practice patience and just wait for the universe to unfold.

When the cold weather became just cool and the green started to come back to the perennials, I wandered around the garden taking stock.   I could see that all the clematis were madly pushing out green leaves and tendrils in their rush to make up for the late start to spring.  All except my only container clematis: Guernsey Cream.  She has beautiful creamy white flowers and lives in a corner of the garden where she can shine alone.
 But, this year, there was no green.  Just a brown stem where there should be green leaves.

So, I made some plans to replace her.  I looked and looked for another Guernsey Cream but nothing.  I almost gave up but then, one day, I came across another white clematis named Henryi.  I took him home hoping that in time he would grow to be a worthy substitute.

Yesterday, this is what I saw when I went to plant Henryi out under the trees.  So tender and delicate,  the green stem carefully climbed out of the earth.  There are tiny hairs on the new leaves that make them look white.  I'm just thrilled to have her back.  But I should have known.  Such miracles have happened in the garden before. 

Now, there are two lovely white clematis in the yard with Henryi  snugly tucked in next  to Etoile Violette.  I'm looking forward to his white flowers contrasting with the masses of purple flowers.  A win-win which brings our clematis family to an even dozen.  I never tire of this plant.