Question
We live in Chicago and are planning on building a pergola in our very sunny backyard. We would like to plant climbing perennials around it to cover the sides and top, if possible, during the growing season. A friend has warned us off of grape because she had difficulty with bees and wasps being attracted to the grape vines. Are there any butterfly pollinated or self-pollinating climbing perennials that we could use?

Answer
Jessica,

   I'm sorry I keep bugging you but I was out in my yard last night thinking of all the vines I have that I'm sure are holding up the fence!  Bees like to get their pollen and buzz away.  A Trumpet vine has a tubular flower (best for hummingbirds) and the bees don't want to work that hard.  And I don't remember any bees being around either of my trumpet vines.

Here is a site about Trumpet vines

http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/88919/

  The one drawback to this vine is that they send out shoots and you'll have them popping up 5 feet away in the grass.  I just pull them out or cut them to about 2" and use a paintbrush with shrub killer on it.  I've had mine for 7 years and they've been beautiful.

At the end of the season, I trim off the stems I don't want (usually if they are growing out of the pattern I want) or I've cut them completely back and have the plant start over.  If you leave the stems/limbs-that is where the growth will be the next season.  They can get a little out of hand but pruning them at any time is just fine!

I think I've thought of everything now!  Oh yes, keep the roots mulched, they don't like getting hot.  They don't need a lot of water either.

Sijka