I grow clematis on a range of found metal objects, usually things that were made of "wrought" iron and are no longer trendy, so are relatively cheap or occasionally free on Craigslist, Freecycle, or garage sales and thrift stores. Examples include folding bakers racks set up flat and tack welded in place or CD racks of various styles. Here is a link to a thread in the clematis forum where some other ideas are listed and I added a couple of photos of found object supports:

https://www.gardenweb.com/discussions/2963348/trellis-ideas?n=7

On most of my found object trellises I use wire or zip ties to attach long legs of rebar to anchor them better. A couple of other things I use include some old wagon wheel rims covered with netting since the wooden spokes rotted away long before I acquired them and some old pieces of farm machinery we found left around the property, but I don't have photos of those currently available.

Here is a thread in the clematis forum that will take you to the photobucket images of supports that were used by Miguel, a former poster on the Garden Web clematis forum. Some are traditional, but at least a couple aren't.

http://smg.photobucket.com/user/nckvilledude/library/clematis%20supports?sort=3&page=1

and WoodyOak on the perennials forum has posted photos of the support structures at the Royal Botanical Garden in Ontario:

https://www.gardenweb.com/discussions/3198414/clematis-forest-today-at-rbg?n=15

as well as of a trellis that she designed:

[https://www.houzz.com/discussions/trellis-made-with-copper-pipe-and-wooden-stretchers-dsvw-vd~1822126[(https://www.houzz.com/discussions/trellis-made-with-copper-pipe-and-wooden-stretchers-dsvw-vd~1822126)

Thank you so very much! I especially like the clematis "trees" at the botanical garden. A slightly larger "tree" might be just what I'm looking for. I also like your tee pee with the big spring on the top! I'm going to go back and look at all the pics again. You've been a great help.

You are most welcome. I like using found objects, and my DH has a wire welder, so I will be using that also to create my own stuff. Basic welding for something like this isn't difficult (my sister and 16- year-old niece learned welding in a morning this past week, enough to create some garden sculpture), and a lesson from my DH got me doing basic stuff in an hour. So check out your local adult ed program or perhaps a small welding shop for lessons.

I have seen folks use old patio umbrella frames, round laundry line frames, gazebo frames also.

As you mentioned above, I also grow vines into shrubs that have relatively rigid stems like lilac, some panicled hydrangeas, and Fothergilla. This is my favorite combo, Clematis Little Bas growing up H. paniculata Quickfire.

I found an old metal rake, leaned it up against my house (in a bed) and grew a Hyacinth Bean Vine up it. I wanted something that wouldn’t cover it completely. I wish I had a picture. The rake was this type —

Apparently, I have a thing for rakes ... I have just the top of another metal one (different style) in a pot with ivy on it. I’ll get a pic tomorrow. The ivy is 25+ yrs old, and has been through three moves with me.

I'm planning on experimenting with an invisible fishing line trellis, and see how well my Morning Glory's will be able to climb/twine around it. Since morning glory's are annuals, I only need the line on the invisible trellis to last a season. Hopefully it works out well.

I have found heavy gauge fishing line to last more than a season. Cotton or hemp line can just be removed and composted along with the vines.

Thanks to you all! The boat garden is so cool!

NHBabs I love that shrub and vine combo. I am seriously inspired to try some vines in shrubs now. I'm especially interested in doing it with vines I plant as butterfly larval food, partly because the shrubs would hide the vines when they get ratty looking from caterpillars, and I also think it would give them more shelter.

I have grown annual vines up strings too. I have never used fishing line though. Neat idea.