You might try the Carolina aster. It isn't really a vine, it's a taller aster that blooms in the fall and sort of "throws" itself over the fence. It is, however, not evergreen but it is reasonably drought tolerant.

I grow quite a few vines, but most of them, except clematis (which would need more water) will smother 31/2 feet rather quickly!

Is there room for a small shrub there?

Yes the fence is 16 feet long and I can make the bed pretty much as wide as I want it. I just thought I could save myself some sod removal and another bed to weed if I went with some vines were I could just did a hole where i planted it and left the sod pretty much in place.

Coral Honeysuckle, a plant native to North America, is one of my favorite vines. It grows to about 8 feet, blooms off and on all summer, and attracts hummingbirds.

{{gwi:637943}}

I think vines are much more work than shrubs- at least they have been for me. Except for clematis, which requires a lot of water.

I live in zone 8 too, and think honeysuckle would be a good choice, I have a plain jane 6ft fence(trying to keep the deer out)and so have planted a few honeysuckle vines, real babies but one day....

That honeysuckle looks really cool. I've never seen one with flowers that long. Does it spread? I've heard that honeysuckle can be invasive.

I second the coral honeysuckle. There is a type that actually gets bushy on the fence. I saw one at Antique Rose Emporium in SA and my neighbor also had it.