Having looked up bindweed and morning glory (a blue flower found about 50 feet from this bindweed, picture posted today as well on this forum), I'm having difficulty telling the difference between the two in terms of how invasive they are. There's a website that actually starts its blog on the subject with: Calling it "Morning Glory" is the work of a truly evil person. I have dealt with field bindweed on a daily basis, and it is one of the most tenacious, ...

WOW! Climbing Pinkie sounds very, very nice. I have 2 trellises that have nothing on them right now, because I wasn't sure what would do well in the situation they are located. Maybe you can all help me with that regarding some of these climbers. Both of these structures are in front of my house, but are on the west side, and only about 3 feet out from the house itself. As a result of this, they are shaded by the house until about 1:00 p.m. but then get full sun until sunset. I have Crepuscule in that situation (not knowing any better), and it is growing well with no disease at all. Flowers have been sporadic though, but I just planted it this past spring. I've left the other trellis areas bare because I didn't think any roses would be happy in that situation (not sure if it's enough sun). In the winter months the sunshine is obviously shortened, quite a bit actually, but the rest of the year they would get blasted for several hours. The house is white, so it probably helps reflect some additional light. What do you think? Regarding Martha Gonzales, I've had a couple of them and had the same defoliation cycles. However, she was getting some shaded periods during the day. I have thought about trying her again in a spot that would get sun from sun-up to sunset. I'm wondering if that would make a difference. Sandy

I have three Edens. They are incredibly gorgeous blooms, and if you're going for the cottage look, you can't go wrong with these. I have one 3 year old trained on my low front fence. It's got a spread of probably 7 feet each side, and is throwing new canes all along the horizontals (the new canes, called laterals, are the ones which will give a bloom, I think...). It is going to be covered with blooms in about 2 weeks, is healthy (in my climate), has not shown a bit of mildew or rust. The next one is only 1 year old, and has just now started considering growing. LOL. "First year sleep, second year creep, third year LEAP" as the saying goes, so that's all right...it's right on schedule. The third Eden I have is in a pot. It is growing like crazy right now, canes extending probably about 5 1/2-6 feet, and I've started working on pulling the large canes horizontal so that laterals will grow and give me blooms. It's about 2.5 years old now, and has started "leaping" early. I plan on transplanting it onto the fence in either late October or November. What I like about this particular rose is that for me, it's not fragrant. Which means it's perfect for the sidewalk fence - because then my neighbors and assorted dog walkers don't take the blooms. :) They leave the blooms on the rose, and it really creates a country/cottage look to the low fence. As a matter of fact, I like this rose so much I called the nursery yesterday to see if they had a 2-3 year old climber...and they don't. Give it some thought...my Edens, here in zone 9, are doing exceptionally well and that's despite me not knowing too much about roses in general. Best- Herding Cats

Trumpet vine can be very invasive but they are beautiful on ugly chain link fences. Try one of the less invasive varieties; I think "Monbal" which is red, is one of them. Also, never plant Engl. ivy anywhere! Depending on your soil & light, have you thought of climbing roses? *Not* Rugosa, another invasive pest, but the beauties like Zephirin Drouhin. I grew up with autumn clematis all around the neighborhood, maybe I should say taking over the neighborhood---it smells like heaven when blooming, but takes over everywhere it can. Watch out for it! If they could make a sterile version I would buy it in a minute, though. Nothing beats that scent. You could plant morning glories along with these other things, too. They are annuals, so even if they volunteer in places you don't want them, all you have to do is pull them out.