Hi Paul! In the link I'll attach is the thread currently right below yours. I posted a few links in it to different balcony designs. Is the balcony also in 10a? If so, you've got a ton of options.

Do you want ti to be lush or minimalistic? That would be one of the first questions.

Here is a link that might be useful: link to more links :)

A number of garden sites sell decorative rectangular containers, including those that are tall with false-bottoms to raise the planting area. You could also use floor-situated rectangular "trough" planters and may consider including trellises in one or more for vine plants. The containers can be any color - and could be vinyl, polystyrene, wood/wood-look, concrete, ceramic, unfinished clay, etc (this is where the design elements come into play). With any containers on a balcony, consider the weight and load capacity of the balcony and drainage.

My balcony (40' long) faces the same NE direction, and the challenge (but also often the blessing) is not having overhead sun. So that will mean whatever is planted will primarily get cooler "front facing" sun for part of a day. The types of plants that would do well would generally be part-sun or shade types, although if the space has a spot that gets 6+ hours of that sun per day (sometimes split like the NW corner of my balcony in summer that gets morning sun for a few hours and then gets late afternoon sun until the sun sets), you can go for more sun-loving plants on that side (many herbs would like the sunnier side).

Consider that an alternative that could provide the ability to have hanging plants (not hung from the ceiling) is to have a large container (within the HOA limits) with a plant pole sunk in it (and set back from the rail if desired). Then smaller plants could be hung from the hook(s) on it. Additionally, a hummingbird feeder can be hung from a hook on such a pole.

For tall plants for the zone, consider any that are "understory", some of which can be dramatic like the various ficus.

These are just some initial thoughts...

Jenny-- are you back in this forum now (I hope?!)? Doubt you remember me, but I was re-reading old posts from the past and was sad you were absent. I was wondering how your balcony was doing now.

The best idea I heard so far was to grow some vine on the left, center and right pillar. Since the HOA frowns on vines growing on the structure, we would probably need to install some trellis. One poster on another forum suggested a net trellis that hangs from hooks on the roof (which would require approval from the HOA, but is doable).

My initial plan was to grow some hummingbird attractive perennial vines like coral honeysuckle. I have been told that the vine would grow out of the container and need to be root prune. This maybe too big of a job for a under 90 lbs retiree to handle.

So my next plan is to grow something like Scarlet Runner bean, which is an annual. She can save a few pod for replanting next year and eat the rest. One issue is if there's enough light for Scarlet beans.

Paul

Paul, you could also make a trellis out of fishing line. It's barely noticeable, as you only really see the reflected sun rays, and not the line as such. You don't really see it from afar. Perhaps that's more palatable to the HOA. There used to be a thread here on the balcony forum of how to make one, but alas the pictures has disappeared. But I bet a search would show loads of results. With fishing line you can do a fan shape, or simply run the lines down vertically.
If your mother gets sunlight on the balcony until around 11 am, I think the runner beans would do fine. Perhaps they wont give a crop until later in the season, compared to vines grown in full sun. Hyacinth beans are also an option, and actually prefer (as far as I know), not to have full sun all day, even if they are sun lovers as well. As I remember, the hummingbirds liked those on Jenny's balcony! -The butterflies liked them on mine :-D

Jenny: Everything Julianna said, goes for me as well! It would be great if you could hang out with us here on the forum, and help us get it back to it's prime! Your balcony has been such an inspiration to me, as well as a lot of other people!

since you are in florida and hence have high winds in hurricane season, even with loggia style balcony you'll have wind - so i would not advice any trellis or any large trailing plants. square containers do not topple in high wind - a big plus over round containers. you'll probably need to use sturdy large heavy containers and put you plants in lighter plastic inserts, so you'll be able to lift them occasionally for maintenance/repotting. i would not plant anything high maintenance/edible for obvious reasons: bugs in summer are big in florida. you don't want to attract them. for plant choices you'd be better off in florida forum. for low maintenance(low water) bromeliads are a good choice. some of them get quite large and they will bloom and offset. you can also take them indoors for a display. same with orchids: in florida humidity they will just need to be misted and can be grown without soil.
obviously in summertime the NE balcony with overhang is A BIG plus! most house plants are tropicals and can be grown outside on the balcony, except for a few weeks in winter. if you stay away from very tender plants, you won't have to bring them in in case of low temps. you could have potted citrus like calamondin too - it can fruit in part shade too and is pretty with fruit. design wise, i'd stay away from too much simmetry. some taller plants can go against the wall: the west wall will have some sun, the east wall will be always in shade.
since the railing will cast shade too and 8' is pretty deep - you need to use mostly shade tolerant plants - most tropical house plants will do the job. it all depends on how much your mother is willing to water.
you can setup self-watering containers.
in case of hi-winds most condos require you to move all furniture/plants from the balcony. so keep this in mind.

AS a note, this is Northern California, not Florida. The weather in the summer are hot, dry, and arid, and there isn't a lot of wind.

The Condo however do not allow hanging plants near the railing, they are worry that it will fall and kill someone.

Paul

wo-ops! my bad. your note obviously is quite important - you should've mentioned where you are. guess, i assumed that florida is most popular with retirees. conditions/plants are totally different, of course.

oh, now i remembered - i actually looked up walnut creek and found one in SE florida! how funny is that?