As the Greater Portland Area prepares for some brutally cold weather in the coming days (16F predicted!), we at FRCC are moved to think about the things that cost money, like propane to heat the greenhouse for instance, but are necessary to keep our clematis growing. It is indeed the season of giving, and even though most of the clematis are dormant, we cannot be. It takes contributions from a lot of sources to preserve and enhance the clematis collection, build new gardens, and document our activities. Now is a great time to think about donating to the Friends of the Rogerson Clematis Collection. Here are some of the upcoming projects in 2009 which your generous support will help bring into fruition:

Establishing the Founder’s Garden (home to at least 36 of Brewster’s favorites).

Establishing the Beginner’s Garden (the International Clematis Society maintains a list of about 60 clematis recommended for beginning gardeners. We’re hoping to have a display garden featuring these clematis started in 2009, in preparation for the I.Cl.S.’s visit to us in 2010).

Updating our software so that inventory information about the collection is in a more easily shareable form, and we become less dependent on home computers, making the best use of the office space recently offered to FRCC by Lake Oswego Parks & Recreation at Luscher Farm.

Improving the labeling of the clematis and other important plants in our display gardens.

Additionally, we are happy to announce our new Adopt-A-Clematis program! We hope this on-going program will encourage everyone to become a “foster parent” to one (or more) of our very special plants. Adopt-A-Clematis allows sponsors to contribute directly to the annual care and feeding of their favorite clematis. If the clematis you adopt is successfully propagated during the term of the adoption, you’ll even get your own young plant for your home garden (the sponsored plant remains with us). Adoption includes a color photo and adoption certificate (both suitable for framing), updates on your plant’s activities and health, visitation and a label on your plant announcing your sponsorship, and a “parents’ party” in August of each year to meet other foster parents and the FRCC volunteers who help your plant thrive. The adoption fee includes a one year individual membership for those who are not already members.

On the menu bar at the top of this page, click on the Adopt-A-Clematis button to download an adoption form and the list of clematis currently available for sponsorship!

If you would like to make a directed gift to a specific project, contact us at info@rogersonclematiscollection and we’ll make sure your money goes where you want it to.

Thank you to all of our donors for your continued support of North America’s most comprehensive collection of clematis in a public garden, 619 taxa strong and still growing!

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