Beautiful Spring-blooming Arbor

Since prom season is upon us, I thought I'd share these pics of an adorable couple (our next door neighbor and her boyfriend) posing under our arbor. 

I mean, really, could they be any more beautiful?

As a matter of fact, yes!

 

My handyman husband, Patrick, built this when we were in our last house and when we moved, it came with us. 
 

 

My dog, Georgia, photo bombed my photography session here.
 

 

Lady Banks roses need a little help to attach themselves, but make a beautiful statement.

 

 
The plant on the other side of the arbor isn't doing quite as well.

 
If you'd like the plans to build one of these yourself, I'll have to climb in the brain of my creative husband and draw something up for you. It's a combination of about six different photos I showed him. (And it was ten years ago.)

The climbing Hydrangea vine, which can tolerate some sun, isn't climbing as high as I had hoped. I know it needs some sun to flower, and it has enough shade to keep the foliage happy, so what is up?
 

 
It's been in the ground for six years and has ONE bloom. Can any of you green thumbs tell me what I'm doing wrong?



One lonely bloom on the climbing hydrangea vine.

 

 
I'll share a little tidbit about my husband and I: we are CRAZY for copper. Copper lanterns, copper bathtubs, copper roofs, copper gutters; basically anything copper.

He custom designed the arbor to have curving copper pieces that will weather to a pretty, green patina.

Even the post caps are copper. I thin he would copper-plate his car if he could. I'm going inside now, as the pollen hasn't quite made it's way North just yet. Hope you all enjoyed my Spring photos!