That looks spectacular! Nice work by the team! I love the way you have designed it and the way you use height in the garden, Woody. Next year-wow! Can't wait to see the clems climbing up it, although it does work simply as garden art-it is that beautiful!

How exciting! At last!

I think your clematis will recover just fine. Remember, 3-4 years for them to leap forward! (I know, patience is over-rated)

We have about 3 drops of rain here...

gb - we haven't even had the three drops of rain here... it all has slid by to the east so far :-(

The 3-4 year wait is the reason I planted them last year - trying to cut off one year of the wait at least!

Oh, Woody, it's beautiful! are you planning to leave it grey/black or are you going to powdercoat it a fun color?

You must be thrilled. :)

Wonderful Woody! You did a superb job of designing it and Mario did an excellent welding job. I like the clean lines and agree it is art in itself. I hope to see it smothered in flowers one day.

Norma

I love it! Almost too pretty to cover with clematis, lol. Really, really nice Woody!

How wonderful Woody! I'm green with envy! What a terrific focal piece for your beautiful garden!
Deanne

Yeah - we're pretty pleased with it...! gb - how upset would the clematis be if I cut them down to the height of the 'box' base each year (18") before winter, so the pattern on the top would show nicely against the snow in winter?

Chelone - I'm so conservative... it will be left the charcoal gray/black that you see now :-)

Huldine & Perrin's Pride won't mind but I don't know about the others. It could seriously delay blooms on them the next year if they are type 2. I'd do it in December or January...depending when serious snow appears. Sometimes the seedheads are of interest in winter though...so play it by ear.

gb - they are all type 3. I deliberately didn't plan on any type 2s on the tuteur so it could at least be cleared to show the structure in spring. So, is it safe to cut down a group 3 just before the snow arrives?

Well, maybe the day after. ;) (joking) People have done their pruning in winter in the past and claimed all was well...but I've never tried it.

Great location for it, Woody. You're going to love it.

-Cindy

Beautiful in place - and just the perfect size!

Saucy

Came out wonderfully. Having something fabricated seems to be the only way to go. I need to find me a metal worker!

Yeah, Saucy, the mass-produced arbors/tuteurs are never quite tall enough, in my own opinion. We continually ran into that issue when trying to find trellises for the house. We wanted something that was in an appropriate height and mass, proper scale! for a tall, rather bland home.

The helpmeet finally agreed to make them; ditto for the pergola on the north side of the house.

I can't wait to see how the clematis mature over time, Woody.

It's fabulous Woody! How fortunate you are to have such a lovely piece in your garden and he delivered and installed it to boot. Mario is a treasure himself.

As for the pruning of type 3's I'm far from an expert but up until a couple of years ago I had a Jackmanii by my front door climbing the wrought iron post. I cut it back in late fall or early winter because it grew to such monstrous portions each year the by the end of the growing season it nearly prevented people from coming in the door. It didn't seem to mind. I eventually moved it.

Michelle - yes, Mario is a treasure! And I'm glad to know your group 3 survived a fall cut-back. We'll see what happens when/if I try that here :-)

Wonderful, Woody! It looks SO good, and I can't wait to see it with the clematis on it!

Woody, it is truly a thing of beauty! You did a great job designing and Mario is a fabulous craftsman. So happy it turned out just right for you.