I would consider a lattice wall--not just flimsy but nice. Or maybe wall with lattice on top, or some of those neat cut-out wall designs--anyway, a hardscape structure. I can't recall the mag, but I saw a great photo of just such a situation next to a driveway. The "wall" sort of turned the driveway into functioning as a breezeway (there was some kind of opening or entry, which you could use or not, and position as best for you, depending on the length of the wall. This one was painted white, which matched the home exterior decor. Then there were some vines, or some plantings, to soften it. plus containers on the patio. But the point was, it gave screening but still a sense of the space beyond, took up little space, gave great sense of enclosure and coziness to patio, was permanent.

If I remember right, Olya grows them outside in the Tampa area. Someone remembers me! :) I have not posted in forever and decided to check out the site today I DO grow outside, in Tampa (Temple Terrace), year round. In Florida, it is way too tempting to grow orchids inside,since, as Gary said, we have 10 months of good orchid weather I have a structure with 50% shade cloth on it - lots of light From Orchids May 2009 In winter I cover it with plastic - takes two people to do that ...On cold nights, I turn on a heater or two in there. Any temps above 45, I am not worried, not even for phals... With a few plants, growing outside in Florida is a way to go. Give your phals lots of bridge diffused light; the dendrobiums will need a lot more light than that...

You're a zone 10 and I'm a zone 9, so some of my suggestions may not work for you. Color in my garden right now and through early November consists of: Salvias Roses evergreen daylilies Alstroemeria (Peruvian lilies) Pelargoniums Dwarf Indian hawthorn (Rhaphiolepsis indica) Convolvulus mauritanicus Dahlias (okay, not all year long, but I love them so much it's worth growing them for the color punch they give when much of the garden is resting from the heat) Oleander Canna Cestrum Hydrangeas such as "Endless Summer" Osteospermum And you need to think in terms of good evergreen foliage shrubs as well. They are much more reliable for impact than just using flowers. Such as this shade combo of plectranthus and oxalis: Or this partial-sun combo of Strobilanthes and fancy-leaf pelargonium:

How's the drainage? I have clay soils and grow some 100+ different species of trees and shrubs. Never fertilize, do not mulch. Bought 10 acres of a place with about 4 trees. Something like Chionanthus virginicus grows fine, is deer resistant, but needs well drained land. It absolutely needs sloping ground if you have clay. The shape is a mound about 15 ft. tall (after about 10 years from a sprig). Native evergreen Hollies (like Ilex opaca) make a decent screen after just a few years. If you want to put up a trellis, you can hide anything in 3 years with Aristolochia durior (macrophylla is a synonym). Doesn't spread all over, thrives in shade that is not to deep. If your idea is to plant it and forget it, forget it. Even the best situated, native or foreign plant needs a pruning to eliminate crossing or dead branches. Pruning to shape is also often needed. Spending every weekend is not required, but 10 hours/tree/year should be expected. (Pruning, weeding etc.)