I think it could turn out quite spectacularly. But I'd be mindful of what species I decided to combine in this project. Not knowing how large the arch is, it's hard to guesstimate how many different types of vines might be best suitable without the whole thing turning out to be a hot-mess jungle. It would be in my nature to limit my selection.......although I'm not sure it would be in yours :-)

Oho, he has an allotment but not one which will allow a 10foot high by 12ft wide arch, Callirhoe. I can't honestly complain (too much) cos I have badgered them all (the offspring) to get gardening (I actually worked with one of them for a few years). Anyway, GG, I was thinking thunbergia and Monring Glory and maybe giving the cobaens a miss as it flowers so late anyway. I have a bunch of sweet peas for the side thingies until the later annuals make a showing. I dunno what you would call them (side things). Will try to take some pics (ho ho). I gotta say, not scoffing in horror is a pretty decent endorsement, GG, so not totally mortified...and hey, annual seeds would be the cheapest and most easily fixed (compared to some of my 'plans' in the past (some of which are still an ongoing nightmare (the rose 'fedge' for example...which is basically a low level torture chamber for anyone foolish enough to attempt to walk around with bare legs.

What’s wrong with a hot mess? These aren’t invasives. You can always thin out and edit. How about cucumbers, hot pink beans?

Could you put a bench between the uprights and make yourself an arbour? Maybe with a side table for your pint? Then you can at least have a rest while contemplating the hot mess. Or put it on eBay and use the money to buy more plants ....

Ah, I don't think I could sell it without some very hurty feelings. For years, the garden and allotment held no fascination for the rest of my family...I could go and hang (hide) out in peace from domestic chaos (I often see other plot owners doing the exact same thing) but they all started falling under the same plant spell as me and WANTING TO JOIN IN!

I suppose I am really wondering who else gets enthused with some scheme, plan or folly and if so, do you find your visions match up to reality...because try as I might. this never happens in my gardens...and yet, I had a professional career of designing and building gardens for other people. TBF, I usually had a hefty budget and would rock up to the plant nurseries with a list and a cheque. This does not happen in my own gardens which are an ongoing mish-mash of stuff I have raised, sometimes over years and on the rare occasion I buy a mature plant, I am sad to say I don't always have a place in mind...just a greedy desire to have this or that plant.

On a more positive note, I am nearly always surprised and thrilled when spring arrives and the (survivors) emerge (I frequently forget what and where I have put things). I am hopeful I might have cracked the photo posting thing and promise some plot pics this year...and not the common plant close-ups (which I find a bit infuriating, tbh) but will do the whole thing...if only to get some decent advice from those of you who have coherent plans and move things around (which I hardly ever do).

Mostly, kitasei, the whole plot is a hot mess...but can look lovely if you squint and use selective vision (which I do without even trying).

There are a lot of sitting bits for me (and my pints|) both inside (shed) and out, Floral (priorities fully in order there).

"...but can look lovely if you squint and use selective vision (which I do without even trying)"

Me too! :) I'd try growing some scarlet runner bean vines on it because then you'll have pretty flowers and beans to eat.

If you want something inexpensive that will almost certainly succeed, get something like Boston Ivy. Around here, it grows really fast regardless of circumstance. It grows up walls, trees, and covers the ground without any help from anyone. You could probably get a free cutting from the ground, assuming someone near you grows it. These are covered in roots. You could plant it on the ground and leave it alone and let it go. I have some the grows along the ground under shrubs that was planted along a wall 50' away. I think it grows about 10'/year.

Show us a photo! I would plant a rose the big thornless one or grape vines, but most likely the rose. Pink and in Agathie Christie novels.

Maybe you need to get a second allotment and keep its location a secret:):)

"... I feel almost certain that the romantic and lush scene I am fondly imagining will, in fact, be a desperate mish-mash of horror...."

Hmm, sounds like my garden! :)

But as kitasei says, what's wrong with a hot mess? Perhaps we need to change our perspective. Perhaps instead of a hot mess, it's an explosion of color, a profusion of blossoms, a lush carpet of floriferousness draping over a stately garden arch.....

While one could argue that my writing is better than my gardening (lol or just as BAD!!) my opinion is that you should go for it. What the heck. They're annuals, you don't want to hurt offspring's feelings, and hey, maybe it will indeed be a profusion of blooms!

As far as WHAT exactly to grow, I will leave that to you, but perhaps I would try to have some kind of color palette instead of just a willy-nilly tossing together of colors. At the very least it might a bit more planned out, lol.

"... suppose I am really wondering who else gets enthused with some scheme, plan or folly - YES! - and if so, do you find your visions match up to reality... NO! ...because try as I might. this never happens in my gardens.. MINE EITHER!

I pretty much could have written that entire paragraph. While not quite a garden design business, I did have a garden maintenance business where several of my less-enlightened customers thought I could indeed design, and implored me to lay out and install beds, with the pronouncement that I couldn't possibly do worse than they could lol. Huh, if they had seen the state of my gardens I would have been out of business! But as you say, with a budget, and in my case, being forced to actually make a plan instead of plopping impulse buys into whatever spot I could find, I didn't do a half bad job. Not sure why I can't carry that discipline over to my gardens.

Have at it, rosa! You're not hopelessly doomed! You are just surrendering to your wild unbridled side, the part of you that bends to no rules or expectations and does the unexpected! Take your arch and your seeds and have a great garden adventure!

(and show us pics. I've seen your kitchen. I know you can do it!)

:)

Dee