From my experience, east exposure is the prefered exposure for roses. I should think you are fine with any selection you want, presuming this early am exposure is not blocked by trees or structures? Too, ivy will destroy the bricks in about 200 years. But, I would prefer roses any day!! I am in Texas, so climate is different, and you didn't mention a color. So, I really don't know what to advise you, but I think MANY roses would do quite well. For a great exposure like that, I would be tempted to look at David Austin's roses. Golden Celebration is a lovely yellow that even says partial shade. There are too many to list, but let us know colors and shapes. Enjoy!!

Rosarium Uetersen is cold hardy enough and would get large enough, but it is flowering barbed wire. Talk about THORNS! I don't know if Cl. Teas would be cold hardy enough, and though I LOVE Renae, I don't know if she'd be hardy enough there, either. For thornless, eventual large size, FRAGRANCE and ever blooming character as well as being able to tolerate shade, Annie Laurie McDowell (my seedling, available from Burlington) will fill the bill beautifully. Renae is trashed for not being "reliably cold hardy", though it's far more so than originally reported, and Annie Laurie McDowell is a self seedling of her. Check Help Me Find for photos of Annie Laurie McDowell growing in GERMANY. She's offered for sale in The Netherlands. Would that be cold hardy enough? I don't know. My "winter protection" is making sure I keep the roses cut below six or seven feet so the winds don't break them and making sure they remain sufficiently watered when the rains don't happen. Otherwise, I just continue cutting flowers to keep the plants small enough to be wind resistant.

Verbena Homestead Purple (perennial here) will do well in afternoon sun, as will lantana (sometimes perennial). Both will get big enough to cover up your rose's bare legs. No care required - just plant it and get out of the way :) I like geranium Rozanne under just about anything - it has blue-purple blooms all summer for me. Very easy care. Not sure if it could take the blazing afternoon heat though. Under the Japanese maple, a low carpet of sedum would be nice. Try Ogon - a brilliant yellow/green for great contrast with the maple's fall color. For the mini gardenia, plant something really low in front, like mazus reptans or blue star creeper. Or, try something taller behind the gardenia. I like salvia - it seems to go with everything. They are all easy-care, take your pick.

To the best of my knowledge, roses - climbing roses - are not used for espalier work; climbing roses are best left to ramble over an arch or some of the lesser vigorous ones to ramble up a pillar - they are generally refered to as 'pillar' roses. Nancy Hayward is described as vigorous, so I doubt it would be readily adaptable to espalier culture, and the necessary training and clipping all through the growing season would probably severly interupt its flowering potential; and that's what we grow roses for. However, if you attempt it, keep us posted here, perhaps you'll start a new trend. Mind you, the one-time regulars rarely visit this site any more on account of the unsavoury trashy advertisments that the administrator seem happy to tolerate.