Pipestem Clematis or Chaparral Clematis,(Clematis lasiantha), is one of the two native clematis in California (the other being C. ligusticifolia or Western Virgin’s Bower). Pipestem clematis is a beautiful deciduous vine that can be as long as 20 feet. This native vine can be found growing on hillsides, chaparral, and open woodlands in southern and central California. It blooms April to May, displaying many small, creamy white and fragrant flowers. This vine prefers shade for its roots, and sun for its top, and is completely drought-tolerant when established.

With the bosses on vacation, loafing somewhere in the High Sierras, this seemed to the rest of the staff the perfect opportunity to reveal to TC readers the true story of what the Maxwell team is really like. The advertising manager did most of the research and writing, the associate editor put in a few…