Plants that like water are cannas, callas, Japanese Iris and waterlily to mention a few. You could make a water garden in there if I understand the concept.

Of topic - hows the baby - boy or girl

Penny

Clematis would be happy in such a container and would combine well with a rose, too. The patio collection with names like 'Czanne', Versailles, Bourbon, etc. are long blooming and small enough for container culture.

If you want something trailing, perhaps Calibrachoa (Million Bells) and they come in a zillion colors.

wanda

I love callas! That's great. It's not a water garden just that the container has as reservoir and so the plants in the container get evenly watered all the time.

Clematis are nice but don't have the fragrance punch of a rose.

The baby, a girl, is GREAT! She's settled in the household so well I can actually spend some time thinking about gardening. Pretty good with a third child.

I have had to reject plants because they are poisonous. I have some lantana but they are sterile -- things like that (of course the sterile lantanas are ever blooming so that's a big plus too :)

I'm in the s.f. bay area zone 9 and here are a couple of vines I love and do well for me in containers. Passion vine, I have a couple of different varities and they are beautiful flower. Another one I have in a container that has cool flowers and smells wonderful is corkscrew vine. I also have jasmine, allamanda. I'm sure there are more but just can't think of them right now.
Linda

Hydrangea? I have a few in containers and they thrive on north-facing areas.

For those of you addicted to yard sales, or married to someone who is, when making the rounds always ask "do you have any plant containers you would like to sell"? Often since they are not being used it is assumed no one wants them and they are not included in their sale. Last Saturday I bought 5 large concrete or terracotta containers up to 3 feet long, the most costly $2. None of them were part of their sales. Al