You have a space similiar to mine, same zone and exposure. I've had a variety of plants with a variety of results :)

I've had particularly good luck with sweet potato vine, nasturium, browalia, balsam, and streptocarpus, as well as a variety of run of the mill houseplants (like pothos, spider, dieffenbachia).

What kind of look are you going for? Flowered, foliage, vined, etc? I'm interested in what the seasoned pros on this forum suggest, as I'm getting back into the balcony gardening after an extended hiatus. I'm particulary intriqued by some ideas I've read about here I would never have imagined, such as lilacs.

I highly recommend a water feature as well. I've set up a nice little pond and waterfall very inexpensively, using some off-the-shelf pond supplies and stones collected from a local river.

Here is a link that might be useful: The last time I set up my balcony

Thanks Ruggy,

Im not sure what im looking for, I would love a water feature,like a seating area, my boys are interested 15& 6yrs,going to get them acouple of pots each, I have a large piece of wood , that came from the sea, all twisted, and gnarled(lovely), set it around that, I want some climbing plants for the walls as there bare, so many ideas but not knowing the type of plants that would give me that look plus be able to survive conditions....I love Colour, esp purples,lilac,reds,and Grasses,Palms bamboo, etc..
Any ideas...