Jackmanii is vigorous, Polish Spirit is very vigorous, there are very large and vigorous clematis in all the types. You really need to research a clematis and it's ultimate size and growth habit before planting it with a rose. They are wonderful companions if you have the right clematis with the right rose. Clematis on the Web has information and photo's of most clematis and is a good resource. It's not just a matter of choosing a color, it is a matter of finding a clematis with the color you want that also plays nice with the rose. Sue grows a ton of clematis and knows/grows them well. I have Niobe planted with Sombreuil and it is well mannered :-). You might also ask about particular clematis at the clematis forum on GW. Very smart people over there too. Here is a link that might be useful: Clematis on the Web

For a big pink rose blossoms with fantastic re-bloom I would grow 'Susan Louise' as of April 5, 2013 it is available from vintagegardens.com The blooms are a bit bigger than a tea saucer on a mature sized plant, and are pink and cream. The outer petals are a more saturated pink which gives interest to the blossom. Here in the San Francisco Bay area 'Susan Louise' is one of the most disease resistant of all roses, and never needs spraying. I would not put jackmanni with it on a regular sized arbor, as the rosebush is large enough, but if I wanted to see purple and pink, in spring I'd plant fragrant purple sweet peas with it. I have never seen a photo that has done the plant and the bloom justice, it really is special, floriferous and blooms fully here in winter, as well in the other 3 seasons. Luxrosa

I wonder if one of the old Albas might work better as a climber for this zone. You'd need one of the taller ones, like 'Alba Maxima' or one of similar habit. If you don't have to pull it down and cover it for Winter, you can keep a Type-2 clematis in there. Here, I notice that the clematis get kinda brittle by the end of Autumn, and moving them around will likely end up in snapping them. By Spring, parts that look dead will surprise me and leaf out, and I don't snip off dead tips until I KNOW they're dead -- by snipping off anything above the highest set of leaves that develop. With the Type-3s, you wouldn't have to worry about snapped stems if you're pulling down the rose to cover it for Winter -- you just snip them down low and let them start all over again. Of course, you don't HAVE to do that, if you want it going up a tree or something. But if you do this to a Type-2, you'll lose the early wave of blooms in Spring, which come on growth that went through Winter. I've ordered many plants from Bluestone Perennials and have yet to be disappointed. As long as you understand that they come small, you'll likely feel the same. But they're bursting out of their pots when they arrive, and really take off well for me. I try to take advantage of their frequent sales, including their 50-50 Fridays through Winter. Another source for perennials I've frequented is Joy Creek Nursery. They don't seem to have sales, but their normal prices are pretty good -- higher than Bluestone's sale prices, but lower than their regular prices. So when I'm shopping for perennials, I usually start with Bluestone sales, then go to Joy Creek for anything else I wanted but didn't get. Brushwood Nursery is my go-to for clematis -- and honeysuckle and passion flowers, whenever I get around to getting some. :-) ~Christopher

The problem with delphiniums in my area is the wind blows them over. And not sure I want to grow things I have to stake... Do you all stake yours? I have to be careful to plant things that don't mind wind. Maybe delphiniums are worth it tho.. Frances thanks for the ideas. I am definitely going to start some Dames Violets. Its funny... we were in Alaska last summer too! Didnt get to Fairbanks tho. I was amazed how stuff grew tall even in such a low zone! I wonder if hrs of daylight has to do with it?