So you want some vines to plant around a fence, trellis or front porch. What should you get?

Vines come in two or three varieties- annual or perennial. Perennial vines like clematis, false hydrangea vine, trumpet vine, hardy jasmine, come back every year, and may even stay somewhat evergreen over the winter. Like regular perennials, they have a limited bloom window, then quit.

Our Amish friends tend to grow the best-looking clematis I've ever seen- their secret is to add a small handful of lime to the soil at planting and then every year afterwards.

One of my new favorites is Carolina Jasmine. It is a fragrant evergreen vine that blooms about now. It's great if your eyes can stand more bright yellow after the forsythias and daffodils.

Annual vines, like morning glories, cypress vine, hyacinth bean, sweet peas or scarlet runner bean bloom their little hearts out all summer, and then die. You could try to bring them in, but would most likely not be rewarded for your efforts. Besides, which, getting them untangled would be a mess.

They may, however, reseed themselves (check out a fencepost near our driveway in July, the Cypress vines come up by the thousands). Then are spectacular in September.

The third kind is tropical perennials- not hardy here, but perennial in the south. These are the ones you can bring in year after year- Mandevillas, bougainvillea, pink Pandora vine, and passion flowers. They tend to bloom most of the summer.

I like vines because they grow quickly and can hide things you don't want to see. Your porch railing needs painting? Your neighbors chain link fence an eyesore? Plant a vine.

You want some height in a mixed container and don't want to do spikes again? Add a hoop or small trellis and a vine.

Unfortunately most vines need sun. About the only one I can think of for shade is Schizophragma- false hydrangea vine.

Annual or perennial, ornamental vines add color and visual interest to most landscapes, and don't have to eat your house.

Photos: Top left Clematis 'Venosa Violacea', middle right Morning glory 'Heavenly Blue', Bottom left Schizophragma 'Roseum'.