Back in early September I shared my excitement over increased sunshine the back-garden which resulted from the removal of a couple of trees in my neighbor's backyard (here). I'm still thrilled about that.
And from certain angles the borrowed "tree-view" is great.
But from other angles I'm left feeling a little exposed, like I need a few tall plants, not anything massive, just something to create a feeling of enclosure. I do love enclosure. 
Ideally it would be something that hides this view. One shouldn't be left looking at awkward meet-ups between a garage and a fence, with gutter downspouts and a neighbor's security light playing supporting roles (security light left-over from previous occupants of the house next door, it doesn't seem to be the style of the new owners).
Of course nothing changed on my side of the fence, the ugly, bare, meet-ups have always been there, they were just harder to see in the dark conditions created by the conifer cover. Now that it's all bright and open they're harder to ignore.
Years ago I planted a couple of things back in the corner, hoping they'd grow.
Hoping is the word to pay attention to there, cause they haven't. Or at least not much.
There are a couple of Mahonia fortunei 'Curlyque'.
And an Aucuba japonica ‘Longifolia’.
There's also an empty container back there. It had something borderline hardy in it years ago, when that died I just left the container, you can't see it and getting it out of there would have been a nightmare. I wonder if the bottom has rotted out? I'm eyeing that container for something to go in it next spring. Something that will grow fast, maybe a big castor bean? How do they do in containers?
When I bought this Comptonia peregrina I was flirting with putting it in the container, but now I think It will go over in the area where the ceanothus is coming out, at the north end of the patio. We'll see.
While I was back in the corner I shot a few photos of the garden from this "never before seen" angle. Here's looking west along the fence that is at the south property line.
A little more to the north...
More...
And finally looking due north along the back of the garage...
So, back to the topic of this post. Do you have any suggestions for something that will grow fast and provide a little green (or darker, in the case of the castor bean) in an otherwise bare corner? It needs to be at least 5 feet tall (or more), preferably it would be happy in a container, and get only dappled sun at it's base, more as it rises up along the fence. (you know as I typed those words I thought VINE! I do love a vine...but of course it couldn't grow in the garage, that would freak out my husband...). An annual or temperennial would be fine, as I don't need wintertime interest. Any ideas?
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Weather Diary, Oct 15: Hi 64, Low 42/ Precip 0
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