Well I have geraniums and petunias, and impatients. Also a Brugmansia (Angel trumpet) and a couple of plain old texas privets, to put some greenery out there. But then my totally enclosed patio is one for sitting and enjoying the outside. Lots of folks only use their balcony to grow some veggies and herbs. That's not me. For as little veggies as I need, I don't want to use the small space I have to grow them, - I just go to the super market and get what I need.
I like to sit out there with my cup of coffee and the newspaper, and enjoy the plants and flowers.

oh, I forgot. Here is a pic of my patio. You can't see too many plants here, but I think you will get the general idea of my coffee-sipping patio.
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I grow peas and purple beans year round - they give lovely flowers as they grow. Summer is all about fruits, veggies & herbs, which done right can look quite nice. And there's nothing like freshly picked and eaten. :)

The only flowers I grow are in the spring, from bulbs. Starting with crocuses in January, followed by anemones, hair alliums, muscari plumosum, alliums ostrowskianum and azuream, and then some lovely giant pink tulips. So pretty when everything is still dark and rainy out for the winter months.

You should contact PVICK, as she gives a new twist to rooftop gardening. Her flowers are beauties and I think she is in NYC but won't swear to it. Amazing what she grows there on her balcony.

Haas, wow very cozy and pretty patio, makes me want to sit there with a tea tray all afternoon :)

Well :) ... I have the lovely challenge of a North facing balcony on the 3rd floor with a maple towards the front of it (not extremely close)and in Minnesota. My challenges have been to find shade-tolerant, winter hardy (to -30,-40), and my balcony has a roof. I currently have in my planters 2 Annabelle hydrangea's, a 5ft alberta spruce tree, CL. Iceberg rose, New Dawn rose, 2 "The Fairy" roses, 1 variegated Weigela, Morden Centennial Rose, Spreader Yew shrub, Ramona Clematis, and a Blue Princess Holly bush (which overwintered fine but I decided to replace). Last year I planted two Lamium plants(one in each half barrel planter) and each completely covered the front of each from top to bottom, side to side :)

Blueberry and Strawberry plants.

well i happen to have a very large balcony! :) 150sqft over looking mission bay, the ocean, sea world fireworks. its a west south west facing balcony i have 2 dying orange trees(cannot figure them out!) i have 8 pepper plants, rosemary, thyme, basil, 2 dahlias(mystic something, and a hypnotic pink) 2 hibiscus, a hanging fuscia, hummingbird feeder i fill up every day(2-3 feeding at at time) 2 adarondak chairs table, bbq, and a partridge in a pear tree! LOL

here is a bad picture but you get an idea of the view
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Eric

THis looks like a photo of the view from his balcony (and another rooftop) not an actual balcony..

This is my small balcony:
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i have 2 lemon trees in pots planning to expand and plant a herb garden but dont have experience in that.