For very many years now I have had a neglected 6-7" pot, on the paving, close to the south facing wall on the house, with a tuber of this climber. Each year a single growth struggles 8' or so up a thick bare stem of Clematis armandii in the autumn and invariably gets defoliated and wiped out by the spring. The pot is amongst a collection of various things that get rudimentary protection with fleece when I think it necessary. This year with much more snow than usual, temps. down to -14C 30' away in the garden, and many fewer leaves on the Clematis above, the stem has unusually retained its leaves high up and has now been in flower for several weeks, with apparently lots of seed forming. I have given it 1 or 2 liquid feeds this very warm and dry spring. Maybe it has died of neglect by starvation and/or drought in the past. Brian Whyer, Buckinghamshire, England, zone ~8 ish. 6C in the garden now 12.30am.