BORN AGAIN

This Clematis died in the summer. It flowered, then completely collapsed, went mildewy and black and looked horrible. I cut it down and dug it out… I thought. Yesterday I noticed that it had secretly grown again, and now - late November - has tentatively flowered. It should be bright purple, but I'm amazed it's there at all.

(My sister goes back tomorrow. I have eaten more cake in the last week than I can remember for a very long time, and there's more to come tonight. What a lovely week it has been.)