You could try a trailing juniper, however, leaving it to the cold winter isn't the best idea. If the soil freezes solid, you will probably kill them. Junipers are tough, but no plant likes frozen roots. Joe

I'm in 6b and my Crossvine usually keeps it's leaves over the winter but they look kind of sick. They kind of shrivel a little too so it isn't realy evergreen. Then in Spring it regrows new nice looking leaves so if you need good cover all year it probably isn't the vine to choose. On the other hand when it blooms in the Spring it is spectacular and attracts hummingbirds!

Amp512: 1) Yes. 2) Yes, it produces both flowers and fruit but not until it achieves an arborescent state 3) Theoretically you should be able to do so, as ivy will readily encompass pretty large diameter tree trunks here. But I would not advise that on a utility pole. English ivy is considered an invasive species in large parts of the country, especially here in the PNW, where it has invaded and consumed large tracts of woodland and many parks and suburban greenbelts. There is a lot of dedicated effort involved in its removal, which is why you see so many sites offering advice on how to do so. I agree with Embothrium that a vine covering the pole is not really a great idea. In addition to what issues the utility company may have with that, the vine will only serve to emphasize the pole rather than disguise or hide it. It would be better to plant something nearby that would distract from the pole, as suggested above.

"Plus, I wouldn't mind seeing some blooms out my window." The bloom period is fairly short- what about all the other months of the year? Hydrangeas would not be my choice as a front yard focal point for that reason alone- I want the front of my home to be attractive 12 months a year, not just one. To that end I'd really use some conifers and broadleaved evergreens to do the main work and use several seasonal interest things to provide the punch. In a smaller yard I'd use dwarf conifers and evergreens and likely use a lot of pots for my seasonal color- pots that can easily be switched out as their period of interest wanes and another pot is starting up. I am 6b and the front of my home also faces east. The majority of my filler plants are dwarf conifers and boxwood. A Japanese Maple as a focal point and lots of ferns and hostas to fill space. Then in pools on either side of the entry I have colorful seasonal perennials and pots of annuals. I find this approach works well- there is always something interesting going on. I truly think what you need to do is measure your space and get it down on graph paper. Mark your sun/shade and how the light moves. Then you can see what size plants you have room for and can start looking for what you like. I suggest that you spend some time in your nearest botanical garden to see what the possibilities are for your area. You have several near you- GO. Wear your walking shoes and take photos. Driving parks and high end neighborhoods is also helpful- if you see something you like snap a photo and the ID the plants and duplicate that look. Or show us a photo of the front of the home. You are designing here and now is the time to make your mistakes- not after putting something in the ground, growing it for a year only to find out conditions don't suit it. You have a blank slate so take that to the Landscape Design forum and ask for help. I think hydrangeas are a mistake- they're just not that interesting when not in bloom. They can be part of a group but not a main focus other than their blooming period. I have lots of hydrangeas- paniculatas, arborescens, serratas- I ditched my macrophyllas due to frustration at lack of blooms caused by my unwillingness to do winter protection. None of those I have would suit the front of a home as a featured plant to build a design around. Spend more time choosing and planning. Summer's a bad time to plant anyway, so you're looking at fall planting at the earliest, so you have time to research and get it right.