International Clematis Expert to Share his Expertise with Garden Club

©Deborah Carew

©Deborah Carew

Peter Keeping is clematis enthusiast and an internationally renowned expert on Clematis.   Along with his wife Sheila, Peter operates Peter and Sheila’s Country Garden in Bowmanville, Ontario. He was introduced to the species in 1982 when he received two plants for his birthday, and soon joined the International Clematis Society and the British Clematis Society. His collection of the climbers has since extended to over 300 plants, all of which are currently growing on his ½ acre property in Bowmanville. In addition to growing Clematis from seeds and cuttings, he also imports rare varieties from Europe; and he also started propagating by the rather new method of tissue culture, working with two different tissue culture propagating firms in Canada. He now propagates over 200 Clematis using this method.

At this month’s Garden Club meeting, Peter will speak about the variety and care of this attractive genus. In addition to sharing his extensive expertise, he will have some plants for sale at the event.

Peter and Sheila open up their garden to the public, by appointment, and have had many bus tours and private tours. This will be a wonderful meeting to see and learn all about these beautiful plants! The meeting takes place at St. Thomas Anglican Church Hall on Centre Street at 7:30 pm on May 4th. Everyone is welcome with only a $2 admission fee.

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