No suggestions for vines, but what a wonderful job you have done on the courtyard! Love the blog..

I don't see much issue with shade.

Do you want an herbaceous vine, or one that leaves some woody structure overwinter?

I think I'd like something that leaves some woody structure. I'm open to suggestions though. I want some good coverage during the summer, so I don't know if there's anything that would grow that much in one season....but I'm a novice gardener, so maybe there is!

Is Boston Ivy a bad idea?

Boston ivy (or Virginia creeper) would not be my first choice only because its manner of growth and attachment is not well-suited to a trellis structure. It doesn't really 'vine' but attaches itself with adhesive pads that are modified root structures. As you might imagine, this is much more successfully accomplished on a wider surface than a trellis provides - you could certainly train the ivy up and over the structure but it will take attention on your part and some assistance with attachment.

I'd consider grapes, akebia or one of the honeysuckles. All are quite vigorous and should cover the structure and they do vine on their own, needing minimal help from you to do so. Akebia is often semi-evergreen in our climate and the flowers are fragrant although appear quite early. And there are are many very fragrant selections of honesuckle which seem to be most fragrant in the evening......I'd consider that a plus for a hot tub structure :-)

Thank you so much for the advice! Are akebia and honeysuckles very messy as far as leaves and flowers dropping off? I've never had an akebia. Is there a certain variety you'd recommend? At another house, we had a Hall's Honeysuckle and quite liked it. I can't remember how large that got, but that may be a good option. What is your favorite honeysuckle?

Thank you!

Also, what about an ornamental kiwi? or a hops?

Hops would work but it dies to the ground every winter and the dead parts remaining on the trellis might be considered a pain to clean up. Any vine is going to create a certain amount of mess - with hops it would be more of a once-a-year clean up job.

Kiwifruit would also work. The ornamental 'Arctic Beauty' Kiwi (A. kolomikta male) colors best in partial shade. If you're shooting for fruit, you should plant a male and a female of the same species. For the best fruit production you would want to train them up and onto a horizontal trellis/pergola/whatever. With them growing up vertically you would probably still get some fruit, but a lot less.

I don't really know that much about Honeysuckle, but my favorite is Lonicera henryi, which is semi-evergreen and to me has much better looking leaves than most of the others. The flowers are sort of a dusky yellow/purple.

My favorite honeysuckle is Lonicera periclymenum 'Serotina' (actually var. serotina) or 'Serotina Florida'........dark pink buds open to creamy yellow flowers. Very floriferous and extremely fragrant. And the hummingbirds love it!