Explore the climbing, flowering world of clematis this weekend

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YACOLT – Debbie Fischer can remember the first clematis she ever fell in love with. Known to flower enthusiasts as the clematis “Gipsy Queen,” the plant was a gorgeous, hardy climber that erupted in a show of large, velvety violet-purple flowers each summer.

When Fischer’s mother, Rose Marie Marosi, downsized to a smaller home in the mid-1990s, Fischer helped dig the Gipsy Queen up and transplant it to her 87-acre property in the Dole Valley near Yacolt. The summer after Rose Marie died, the Gipsy Queen grew its magnificent spray of purple flowers yet, as if the plant was paying tribute to the woman who had tended its roots and leaves for so many years.

“It was my first clematis. That’s the one that got me hooked,” Fischer says, gesturing to the rows and rows of gorgeous clematis now growing on her Dole Valley property. “I remember my first clematis, my fifth, my 30th … after that, I sort of lost count.”

These days, Fischer is considered a local expert on the clematis. She grows dozens of varieties at her Silver Star Vinery nursery, and ships the popular, flowering plants to customers throughout the United States.

Although it’s relatively easy to purchase one of Fischer’s lovely clematis plants – just go to her website and order one – admiring the Silver Star Vinery grounds, with its thousands of vibrant clematis flowers in bloom, garden art peeking out every few steps and handmade trellises and gazebo, is more difficult.

“People were always asking if they could come visit, so I decided to do a special event each year,” Fischer says. “This year is the third annual.”

The Third annual Open Gardens at Silver Star Vinery will take place this weekend, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sat-Sun., July 11-12, at the nursery, which is located at 31805 NE Clearwater Drive, Yacolt, about five miles north of Battle Ground.

Fischer will have a variety of clematis plants for sale at the open garden event. All of her clematis are sold as mature plants that are usually around two or three years old, with hardy roots, pruned back and ready to be planted directly into the garden.

Visitors can tour the nursery, purchase their favorite clematis plants, buy locally made garden art, and enjoy refreshments made by Fischer’s good friend and Dole Valley neighbor, Terry Walker, and served by Walker’s 11-year-old granddaughter, Emma Walker.

“Terry is my main helper with these open gardens, as well as the Mother’s Day plant sale at the Master Gardeners’ Heritage Farms on 78th Street in Vancouver, which we do every year,” Fischer says. “And Emma has been serving the refreshments since we started holding these open gardens. She’s great at it!”



On a recent private tour of the nursery, it is apparent that Fischer has a love and fascination for the beautiful clematis, which come in three varieties – the Type I requires no pruning and blooms in the early spring, the Type II requires a bit of tidying but no hard pruning and blooms in the spring and fall, and the Type III needs a hard pruning and blooms throughout the summer.

“They’re all my favorites,” Fischer says, stopping every few feet to show off another glorious clematis flower. Some of the blooms are bell-shaped like the vibrant pink Etoile Rose clematis. Others have star or tulip shaped flowers.

On one garden gate, a spray of bright pink flowers mix with a pale purple-flowered clematis. The pink-flowering plant is named after Princess Diana, while the purple-flowering plant is named after Prince Charles. “I have Camilla over there,” says Fischer, laughing.

As she winds her way around the nursery, Fischer’s two dogs tag along. It’s really hot out, so 4-year-old Rose, a sweet German shepherd, stops every now and then to rest in the shade, while 3-year-old Sadie, a long-eared hound, works her way under the bushier clematis plants.

“She’s one of the pests!” Fischer says, pointing to Sadie, who is neatly tucked under a spray of green leaves.

Of course, joking aside, the clematis plants – although extremely popular with gardeners – are still subject to their fair share of pests. Fischer and her full-time gardener, Dennis Hutchinson, use dog-safe bait on the invasive slugs and try to keep a handle on the caterpillars and earwigs that like to snack on the clematis.

Unlike many clematis plants that you can buy online, which are grown indoors and pampered with regular waterings and feedings, Fischer’s plants are hardy and ready for the weather and climate here in the Pacific Northwest.

“They’re tough,” Fischer says. “They’ve been out in all sorts of weather and they’re going to do better than a clematis that was grown back East in a greenhouse.”

Want to learn more about the popular clematis? Check out Fischer’s website at http://silverstarvinery.com, where you can purchase plants and read about how to care for your new clematis plant.

For more information about the Third annual Open Gardens at Silver Star Vinery event on July 11-12, visit http://silverstarvinery.com or call (360) 608-3720.