Having a pergola in your backyard is not only fun, but has the potential to showcase your skills as a gardener. Similar in size to a pavilion, a pergola does not have an enclosed roof, but is constructed of beams connecting the corner posts, with smaller beams across and perpendicular to the main beams. A pergola roof provides a pleasant, dappled shade, which is perfect for relaxing, as well as growing plants. If you have a wood pergola, it is very easy to train roses, wisteria, and other climbing vines to grow up the posts and fill in among the beams, making a stunning centerpiece in your landscaping when the flowers are in bloom.