Nearly there.

Did your armandii have flowers last year ?
In 2008 mine most oddly took a 'rest' with no flowers ~ but, otherwise, very healthy.
Do you have any idea why that happened, please ?

Mine has had flowers every year since I got it and have no idea why yours took a rest TT. Have a look now, I would have though it would be at a similar stage to mine. It is on a east facing trallis next to a fence. I do cut it as hard back as I can after the flowers have finished to make way for a golden hop which shares the same position.

Yes wonderful Marguerite.

Truffle slept long enough yesterday for me to go down the garden and look at my Clematis armandii. Lol.
It has lots of buds this year, but not quite so advanced as yours.

Interestingly, a neighbour likes to copy plants I acquire ~ the sincerest form of flattery apparently ~ so she planted an armandii about two years after I chose mine, from a different source. Her armandii also took a 'rest year' last year with no flowers ! That's taking copying to extremes. Lol