Thanks! I've heard of the purple hyacinth vine too, but is there any possibility of getting it NOT as seed? Or scarlet runners? Even something that will make it partway thru the summer would be better than nothing. I was thinking about tomatoes in a couple of big containers -- hoping to find some Celebrity -- but I hadn't thought of growing them up the wall. My main criteria for back there is "green," so getting some tomatoes (or ANY tomatoes) out of it would be a bonus. Will tomato vines live through the summer here, even if they aren't setting fruit? I'll check out okra, and sunflowers might be cool. You've got me thinking outside the box now. Heck, maybe I'll try some corn back there, or some other type of bean or pea. Direct sow and see what happens. Again, if it doesn't do "all that well" or gets fried or eaten or makes a bit of a mess back there I won't be heartbroken. I just want a bit of a screen that won't be a nightmare to get rid of later. One other option would be something viney that is quick and long-term but controllable -- if it would stay on the wall behind the roses and not try to eat them, that would be completely acceptable. I just don't want cat claw or something horrific like that.

I bought seed for blue flax in very early spring last year at Wal Mart. I started some indoors in flats and they germinated easily, but didn't make it till hot weather. I rather suspect I started them too soon and they didn't get enough light indoors. I am going to try them again this year, but sow them into open ground. A package of seed costs very little, and you can't know till you try...

I guess I'll be the one to do the experiement to see how it performs here. I forgot to say this is the dark reddish chocolate colored one. It's very pretty and and I'm looking at the tag right now. It says it grows fast -- 12' high and 6' wide!!! LOL! I neglected to read that part before buying. That puts a whole new spin on planting it in the pot I had in mind. Anybody need a 12' grassy plant of a chocolate color? Oh well, it might work in the pot for a few months ... Here is a link that might be useful: Lowes photo ...

little late to be thinking seed..any budget to just go buy some small plants?? if so .. dig a hole ... loosen the soil in said hole ... insert plant .. and cover the whole bed with a good mulch ... if need me.. excavate at the walkway edge.. so the mulch stays in the bed ... btw.. whats you native soil type??? ... any bad clay??? by next year.. the grass will have rotted down and you should have some nice soil to plant in ... seedlings should have been started over a month or so ago .. and be ready to take off .. if you want to try some seed.. no reason you couldnt buy a few plants.. and try some seed .. best way to learn.. but you are going to have to do a lot of soil prep to grow seeds ... in our MI ... the heat of summer... starts building in july.. and you have to have your plants well established.. to survive.. it will be very hard to germinate and get a seedling big enough to handle mid summer heat .. all that said.. i learned more experimenting than i ever did reading about it.. so try both ... ken