I agree with Roseseek. THE PILGRIM is anything but thornless. If you want a yellow climbing rose with fewer thorns then try its parent GRAHAM THOMAS. REINE DES VIOLETTES is about as thornless as it gets for a rose. Truthfully I've never noticed any thorns on my plant. Both flowers and foliage are fragrant, which is an added bonus. The growth habit is graceful and mannerly so you won't have to worry about it growing out of bounds. Its one fault is a tendency for Chlorosis (caused by a nutrient deficiency). This cultivar is more susceptible to it than any other rose that I've grown so keep an eye out for yellowed leaves. Solutions include getting a grafted plant on Dr. Huey rootstock or amending your soil. Get your soil tested: pH should be neutral (6.5-7) with plenty of iron for the roots to feed on. Drainage should also be optimal so if you have red clay add some peat moss to fluff it up. I know this sounds like a lot but RdV is one of those roses who is worth the extra effort. A well grown plant in full bloom will stop traffic. CLOTILDE SOUPERT is a gorgeous climbing polyantha that does very well in USDA Zone 6. It has hardly any thorns and flowers are intensely fragrant. It is prone to balling and powdery mildew, which is really only ever a problem in places like California. With enough summer heat the flowers open just fine in spite of the humidity. Here is a link that might be useful: Garden Bad Guys - Chlorosis by Nanette Londeree, Consulting Rosarian

I think you can skip New Dawn. It is a great climber for those who need something that will survive in USDA Zone 5, but in zone 8 there are more fragrant options. You'd better brace yourself because there is NOTHING as beautiful as a healthy climbing rose in full bloom. Simply put climbing roses are sheer romance itself. All of the climbing roses I'm going to recommend both rebloom and have medium-strong to very-strong fragrances. Those with an Astrix (*) cause olfactory orgasms. Among the Old Garden Roses the best of the best for zone 8 are: ALISTER STELLA GRAY (Noisette, 1894) - white blushed apricot yellow LA FRANCE (climbing hybrid tea, 1893) - light pink* LADY HILLINGDON (climbing tea, 1917) - egg yolk yellow* LAMARQUE (Noisette, 1830) - lemony white* MME. ALFRED CARRIERE (Noisette, 1875) - soft white* MME. ISAAC PERIERE (Bourbon, 1881) - magenta* REINE DES VIOLETTES (Hybrid Perpetual, 1860) - soft purple; must be grafted* REVE D'OR (Noisette, 1869) - apricot, yellow & pink blend Among the reproductions: GRAHAM THOMAS (English, 1983) - golden yellow NAHEMA (large flowered climber, 1991) - shell pink & thornless* ORFEO (large flowered climber, 1964) - dark velvety red* PAT AUSTIN (English, 1993) - orange blend; to climb get grafted* SOMBREUIL (large flowered climber, 1940) - ivory THE PILGRIM (English, 1991) - ivory blushed pure canary yellow * Intense fragrance

I am sure that your remodel will be constructed different from the one we had added on our home when we built. The entire two stories of our home is brick, however they did not brick between the deck and the house, hence we have had a major leak during heavy rain. We now have to replace the entire deck, cut back the upper roof, change out the doors, on and on, a major remodel. So be careful and aware. I don't know the price, but we have Trex decking and it is no maintenance and there are good looking choices now. There are also many other companies that make no maintenance decking and I would use that type of product it will save you so much cost and labor in the future. Good Luck, Marla

Sorry - I read too quickly and missed the fragrance requirement. There are a few large clematis that are scented, including Betty Corning and Clematis montana. I don't know how well C. montana grows in GA. You could ask on the Clematis forum or whatever is the most active forum for the SE. You could also plant other scented plants in pots in the deck and that would give you more flexibility with your vines for shade.