Drat, my image didn't come up. Lemme try it again ...

{{gwi:1335699}}

Muuuuuuch better!

Have you considered an aggresive prunning for the boxwood?

Cut them all the way down, maybe a smaller version might make you more happy.

Nope, it's war on boxwoods, baby! DIE DIE DIE -

Actually, part of the problem is that they're very old. The previous owners of the house did pretty much no landscaping. The whole house was surrounded in boxwoods, with one dying holly, a nandina and a whole lot of purslane that I'm still trying to kill. So I'm sick to death of boxwoods in general, and these have never been particularly healthy. They're probably at least twenty years old, and no amount of water or fertilizer has helped them much.

I did aggressively prune the other side of the house's boxwoods, to little avail; they still haven't bushed back out. There's still major holes in the hedge where it jsut can't seem to muster the energy to fill in. Weird ...

I'm with you on the boxwood war. I want all mine to die. I have some about 2 or 3 times the size of yours. Same as yours, from what I've heard, the previous owners did NOTHING in this yard (there was an oleander growing over the side walk and they dealt with it by walking around it and tramping down the grass). Mine are also about 20 years old, and have ivy, iries, monkey grass and who knows what growing under and around them (I did find and pull out some landscaping lights.

As far as vines go, ivy would climb very well (at least mine has), but I don't know about flowering. Mine has stayed green since I've been here. Some of it is growing up the side of the house.

I have a virginia creeper that has grown along a fense. I don't know if it will "stick" to masonry, but it can shimmey up a telephone pole and bamboo pretty well. It also seems pretty fast growing. It turns red in the fall and some berries on it (I didn't ever see flowers, but I'm sure they were there, just too far from the house). A word of caution if you go that way--I read that it can be destructive to wood. It is also pretty prolific and can have quite a runner and root system (then again, I don't know how it got here or how long it has been here--the roots by the ground were quite thick). I thought it was a weed until I saw a local nursery selling it for about $6 for one strand. This one has been planted in the shade under a tree and by a fense, but it creeps out to the sun on the fense, so I'm not sure if it is a sun or shade vine. I do see them all over (especially the ft worth zoo, so I know it does well in this area)

If you need ivy (I'm guessing it's boston--I can send a pic if you want), virginia creeper or asian jasmine (I think that is what it's called--it's a ground cover that has been mixed in with the ivy), just let me know and I'll bring you some to the swap--I'm guessing you're coming.

Oh yeah, I'm coming to the swap. :-) I have some asian jasmine, but I'd rather have something a little showier right by the door. Boston Ivy is at the top of my list at the moment.

Hi mommyfox - I may have, your vine for shade. It is variegated - green with cream edges - and evergreen and has bluish - purple flowers. If you could email me - I can send you pictures of it.
Thanks - tina_2

Awesome! I sent you an email!

Virginia Creeper can definitely climb masonry w/o any help. It has little sticky feet that help it cling. I just love the red leaves in the fall!

Another vine that will just stay green is fig vine. It has little dainty green leaves. And it doesn't need a trellis.

oh, and there is some flowering vine that does well in the shade. Shoot, I have to go look at my wishlist to remember what it's called. One of the guys (in Galveston maybe?) posted a photo of his and it was awesome! Big pink flowers!

Found it! Clerodendrum thomsoniae (bleeding heart vine)

Anyone know where I can buy one? I think these are very pretty.

Will hyacinth bean vine climb masonry?

If so, it's just wonderful, & I have seeds (*easy* to grow; for all their beauty, they're just beans!)

I had 2 of them growing on a huge trellis/pergola/sump'n in full sun this past summer, & they filled the entire side & top & spread across a rosebush & a window.

& if Mildred comes, she almost always has coral vine.

I was going to come to this forum and ask the same question! I am buying a new home next month that has siding on one side that my husband hates. He wants a vine, and I was thinking fig, but then I've read that it can be destructive. I really like those little leaves!

What about crossvine or trumpet vine (which may be the same thing) for the part-shade area?

I tried a bleeding heart before; I think they're a little delicate for this area. Maybe in a microclimate part of the yard that stays cooler and has good drainage it could manage in this part of the world, but the heat killed mine.

Look into Creeping fig.

Mommyfox.....Just wondering if you decided on a vine and which one?

In morning-sun area I'm going to put a clematis. I'm still waffling on the shade area. I figured tina's vinca would work as a ground cover over there, but I'd still like something vertical up the wall. I love boston ivy but I'm having trouble finding it (might just be too early.) The virginia creeper has pretty fall color, but it looks too much like poison ivy for my taste.

It seems that the flowering types need at least part sun, so now I'm just gearing for some fall color.