In your climate, I'd guess that those are possibly pelargoniums rather than hardy geraniums/cranesbill. In areas where they are fully winter hardy, they will grow into a large, shrub-like mass. But rather than a shrub or perennial, I'd pick a vine to climb the power pole...perhaps a clematis. There are many different cultivars and hybrids with a range of bloom times and colors - I'm sure you can find something that suits your tastes :-)) Note: it is important to remember that many plants that are grown as "annuals" in the US are really perennials in other areas of the world with mild winters. Like the dahlias (no need to dig), pelargoniums and lavatera....even some zinnias.

I think all plant addicts always check out the plant section of all stores we go to. Like last year I spied a plant nursery in Ohio while vacationing. That's where I purchased those big pots full of Gold Hahnii and one with a Solid Gold pup for under $5 each. That doesn't happen very often. Or the time in Lowes clearance rack which had pots full of Bantal's Sensation for $4 each from $22 each. I purchased all 4 they had and each pot had 5 to 6 plants each. Same Lowes I purchased some small futura Black Gold which had some extra yellow stripes down the center which turned out to be Gold Flame's. Never know what you might find. I might add that I shared those fines with the good people here and they gave me much more in plants back. I joined this forum due to the love of Sansevieria and learned so much over the years from so many who no longer post here but some experts still do and is very helpful. They don't consider themselves as experts but they are. Oh, forgot to add other question; Yes I have a very large collection of Sansevieria, Agave, Haworthia, Aloes, Some Jades, Euphorbia, Asclepiads and some cactus. Not to add my wife's weeds that she likes. Come fall it is a mad house bringing in all the plants and filling up every window space available. Plus the shelves in the cellar with the LED lights. I'm getting too old and weak and must consider thinning out the heard. Very hard to do.

Our two year old and 5 year old grandchildren are in Australia where the borders are closed until mid 2022 at least. Anyone else experiencing the same devastation?

The OP had stated that the plant died, but said it bloomed, but didn't describe the flower. They wanted it identified so they could replace it with another. I asked them to describe the flower, and to clarify if it was indeed planted by someone, or if it was a vollunteer from who knows where. It definitely looks like a Lactuca species, but all searches I try turn up nothing. You would think that a Lactuca species this unusual would be well known? The red veining is spectacular, and the leaf lobes all look uniform making me think it's a genetic trait of the species. I haven't checked every Lactuca species listed on the plant list, and it may be in there, but again, why isn't it more well known? So hopefully I'll get a description of the flowers, but no chance of testing for milky sap, but I'm almost sure it has it. http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/search?q=Lactuca