It's mid-April, and the wisteria are in full bloom across parks in Japan, climbing on trees and over trellises to form ornate flowering tunnels. Hardy and fast-growing, wisteria is said to be one of Japan's most ancient flowering vines, and has been described countless times in ancient poems and literature. 

Vines can be used to create a privacy screen on an apartment balcony, a backyard deck or patio, or to accent a fence or wall.  Whether you have an existing structure that you'd like to see come to life, or you're planning a home improvement project, vines are an easy and low maintenance way to bring a little green to your space.