It takes one to know one...

Old-man's-beard, Clematis vitalba, is festooning our over-grown hedgerows and scrub patches, making up for the lack of flowers at this time of year. Does the fact that it stands out so clearly all winter explain why it is so well known amongst country people and has so many common names - Traveller's-joy, Woodbine, Smokewood? Seen up close, the seed-heads are magnificent - like organic calligraphy. Another under-rated plant because people don't stop and look more closely.