Vine Dilemma Across the Street

Here's where most of the free mulch we got the other day ended up. This is the front of my garden across the street.

Going in, to the east, the Mexican sunflowers are growing taller than the zinnias now, but aren't blooming yet. These were planted from seeds in the ground. The 2 I started inside are blooming in the front yard bed at home, but aren't getting as tall. The nasturtiums are a peach colored one. I planted the seeds when I thought the fennel I'd planted wasn't going to come up. Some of the fennel came up, too.

Continuing to go east, the potatoes are starting to die back, but when I dig, I'm not getting many decent sized potatoes. I hope they are still growing. To the right, along the fence, are some perennial geraniums I moved from my home curb bed, because there is supposed to be work done there this summer, and I'm supposed to take things out 2 feet from the street. At the end of the row, are 2 trellises I bought at a garage sale recently.

The viburnum and deutzia bushes seem to be growing. Now, I need to plant something on the trellis.

We picked up this bench 75% off at a local garden center. I need to figure out if this is where I want it. I'd thought about putting it next to the trellises, but decided I didn't want it right next to the neighbors' yard, plus, I had already planted some things in that area. It's currently in an area I'm further behind in weeding than the rest. It hides the compost pile from the rest of the garden, so I'll probably keep it there, and want to plant something that will climb on it, too.

Here's the dilemma. I bought this Dutchman's Pipe because butterflies are supposed to like it, but when I searched for information on it, found out it's poisonous. The neighbors behind the trellises have dogs, so I decided I better not plant it there. I think I'll plant it on the fence by my compost pile.

We had a trumpet vine growing on the fence to a dog run the first place we lived. I loved it, and don't remember it sending runners, but Larry kept the area around it mowed. I found this on the $5.00 table at a different local nursery. My thinking was that I already battle sumac and other weeds, so I can handle the trumpet vines coming up. But, then, I realized the neighbors on both sides of the garden would also be forced into doing battle, too, and at the one place, they could end up with trumpet vines taking over the whole yard, so I think I'm going to try to give it away, unless someone tells me they don't send as many runners in partial shade, or gives me good reason to grow it.

This is Elegans Porcelain Berry Vine, that was also on the $5.00 table. I'm finding out the birds spread the plants after they eat the seeds, and it is considered invasive. Oh, dear! What to do, what to do!

Please let me know what experiences you've had with these plants, and what ideas you have for vines to grow on the trellises. The birdhouse trellises are about 6 to 7 feet high, and 2 feet across each, and since they are a few inches apart, the total width is about 4.5 to 5 feet. The fence nearby could handle some of a vine. The chair is only about 30 inches wide, and 5 to 6 feet high. I am willing to keep a vine pruned to keep it a good size for the space.