What goes on in the pool that you don't want your neighbors to see, please?

I so wish I had a life that needed privacy.

It’s not clear to me which windows to block. Patio umbrellas strategically placed might help.

Yeah sorry, camera on phone is quite damaged and pictures can blur. Umbrellas help when close enough to them but not for much of the area. I’m considering bamboo in containers, looking more into it now.

Neighbors' windows too far away to need privacy from. They'd have to use binoculars to see anything!!

It’s misleading because I use .5x on camera because picture quality is better that way for some reason on my damaged phone (though still not good) its close enough so that the husband bemoaned my cutting down the mature white pines I previously had planted. Suppose I could take another picture on another phone and post it and hopefully it conveys closeness but I can assure all that we can each see each other quite clearly.

I would probably do something like this on a frame like you describe instead of a vine.

tho these are on a pool enclosure, I think a metal or even pvc frame could be erected and the base posts set in concrete in planters (which could give you more height).

Here is an idea, free standing, shown only for the way they stabilized the base. Something like this, taller with the draperies hanging from frames:

Another idea where the angle reduces the need for as much height

I think the posts set in concrete planters could be a good way to do it, I forgot about that. I just think because I only need it in a few spots, and the likely not too great I’d diy something like this, it would look too intentional and crappy. I think bamboo in large containers made by 2x6s could both be effective and just an interesting project regardless of privacy. People seem to get some serious growth from them even in containers

Plant another staggered row of Green Giants in front of the existing. GGs are very pyramidal at top, this will help. the ultimate height and spread may be stunted with the mature spread closer, but anything over 20' tall is beyond what you need.

Nursery near me has two sets of GGs, one 5 feet apart and the other 10 feet apart. Even the 10 feet spaced ones connect 15-20 feet high which is what I eventually plan for, I don’t have space beyond my current gg plantings but I do have some between them and my fence but I was hoping to have a walking path there and think I’d lose it if I planted another row. I considered a more narrow arborvitae like American pillar but the deer will get them.

Wow, he’d hate living where I do. All of our patios are in front of our homes & we live in a busy tourist destination in So Cal beach, lots of foot traffic year around.

"I like to shield myself from people who ask others why they need privacy, Joe."

So you need privacy from me as well as your neighbors. Interesting. Clever non-answer to a fairly asked question.

Anyone who understands the need for privacy, i.e. not being on display for others, would never ask why the need. It has nothing to do with what is being done, it has to do with simply having private spaces. It's like saying there is no need to cover a bathroom window unless you're taking off your clothes, but most of us don't want the neighbors watching us brush our teeth or fix our hair or make up. They may not be at all interested in watching, but we don't know. It's nice to know that they cannot see if they should want to, or even by accident.

Joe your comment satisfied your urge to judge and be nosey, it wasn’t worth a reply of anything other than mockery. A privacy question about landscaping is standard stuff, why don’t you go walk around and knock on the door of all your neighbors with fences and ask them what they’re hiding back there.