Dave and Trish - I enjoyed the podcast!
I was surprised at how many different types of "vines" that I actually grow in my yard after listening to all those you mentioned! LOL! Yikes! But I grow them each with a purpose. And none have proven to be aggressive vines. Of course, some are grown in containers just to prevent their unwanted spreading in my garden areas. I was so glad that you mentioned the cattle panels. I love, love, love using the galvanized cattle panels for arbors. I currently made 3 for my yard and one at the school I used to work at. The cattle panels will last longer than the posts they are attached too and the panels make a REALLY sturdy trellis/arbor for just about any vine/plant to climb! They work really well for me!
I have what I call a mini-pergola that I made using cattle panels on each side as a trellis for Coral Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) to climb. I garden for hummingbirds and the birds do indeed love the blooms on those vines. I can sit underneath this structure in partial shade and watch all the birds and butterflies! I also hang my Epis from this pergola as it provides bright shade for most of the day.
I also grow several different clematis, but here in FL I have to grow them in a container because of the root knot nematodes. I also grow Passiflora incarnata in containers too, for the same reason. I grow Passiflora "Alba" which is a host plant for the Gulf Fritillary and Zebra Longwing butterfly caterpillars. Those I grow along my picket fence.
I am also growing a Wisteria vine. It is the American vine called "Amethyst Falls" which is not supposed to be as invasive as the Japanese Wisteria (which can be a nightmare). Flowers are supposed to be smaller but just as pretty! I have it growing in a container. It is still a small vine and has not bloomed yet for the first time, but is growing on one of the cattle panel arbors. On another cattle panel arbor, I am growing climbing roses. (Also grown in containers up against the arbor.)
I thought for listeners who don't know what you are talking about when you discussed using cattle panels for a trellis or arbor, that I would share a few photos from my own yard....
Cattle Panel Rose Arbor:
Another Cattle Panel Arbor that has Ipomoea indica and the wisteria vine growing on it:
And this is the mini-pergola/large arbor using the cattle panels for each side of the structure for Coral Honeysuckle to grow up:
