Dan's Papers - July 27, 2007 - Where the Wild Things Grow

Climbing vines are consistently popular elements in a garden, although it's tough to pinpoint the exact reason behind their appeal. Gardeners love climbing vines for many different reasons. Perhaps for you they conjure up images of Ivy League colleges and old manor houses in Europe. Or perhaps you have ideas of fairy tale cottages and petite garden houses. Whatever the romantic appeal is, climbing vines have just as many practical applications in the garden.

Climbing vines are notoriously fast growers. Under optimal conditions, they can easily cover an entire wall or small structure in one season. This is useful if there is an unsightly structure in your garden or an area of your house that is boring or just plain ugly. Most gardeners and garden-enthusiasts are drawn to the scrambling, carefree, wild growth patterns that vines create as they climb upward. Vines are also the easiest and most effective way to add vertical interest to your garden, and many offer vibrant pops of color as well. With all these visual and practical benefits, it is no surprise that vines are so popular. However, it is important to know which vines can do what for you and your garden.

A local favorite is the Climbing Hydrangea. The big, blue clusters have become synonymous with the idea of a Hamptons summer and are also a vine. This plant has large clusters of flowers and is a strong, sturdy grower. It is one of the best varieties to use against the exterior walls of a house because it doesn't damage shingles. It clings to walls will little gripping vines, whereas some vines can squeeze their way underneath shingles and slowly rip them right off. The Climbing Hydrangea is a perennial and is popular for attracting hummingbirds in the spring and summer.

The Morning Glory, which is always a favorite, is popular for the bright bursts of color that it provides. The Morning Glory is a delicate vine with luscious petals. The most popular variety, "Heavenly Blue" has royal blue flowers and heart shaped leaves. This vine offers beauty and a sense of romance and whimsy to the garden. It looks best on a fence or trellis but will take to just about anything. Morning Glories are a favorite for attracting butterflies and hummingbirds as well.

Clematis comes in a few varieties. Gardeners love Sweet Autumn Clematis because it will produce thousands of blooms, even in its first year. Also, as indicated by its name, it blooms in the fall, when the garden is starting to fade. The addition of Sweet Autumn Clematis will bring vibrancy into your garden when it needs it most. The regular variety of Clematis produces spring blooms and enjoys full sun.

Honeysuckle also thrives in full sun and takes particularly well to trellises. They are a beautiful and practical cover-up for unsightly chain link fences. This is a strong and fast growing vine with beautiful, delicate flowers and a heady, intoxicating scent.

Hybrid Climbing Roses are delicately beautiful and add a beach cottage feeling to your home or garden. They are a classic element with big, beautiful blooms and glossy dark leaves. Hybrid Climbing Roses are available in just about every color you might want.

Then there is the classic Ivy. Boston Ivy and Engleman Ivy are two of the best varieties. Boston Ivy grows quickly and strongly and will attach itself to just about any surface. It is most beautiful in autumn when its deep green foliage turns to vibrant orange and red. Boston Ivy will thrive in both the sun and the shade. Engleman Ivy is best in the shade and is a great nesting spot for birds.

Vines are used too infrequently in gardens. For all their beauty and functionality, they should be a staple in every backyard. Climbing vines are sure to impress you with their strenth, colorful blooms and wild growth. Guide your vines up a brick chimney or train them to ramble along a fence. Create a shaded area or a romantic arbour. Create sceens to cover unsightly areas or fill a trellis with vibrant blooms. Create privacy from too-close neighbors, or add visual interest to a low-laying garden. Experiment with vines in your garden this summer and you'll soon be tangled up in them.