Clematis buds

A couple of the clematis in the garden are getting lots of buds now. This deep wine-coloured one has buds that look more like fruit than flowers, and that open to a quite leathery appearance. The way they hang like tiny lanterns is rather pretty, especially at the bud stage. 

It's such a lovely day today, although I still feel a little anxiety over whether we're going to get enough rain this season. It's probably a bit premature for that though. If we get a wet summer I'll be wondering what on earth I was thinking.