You may want to go with plastic pots to keep the weight down and go as large as possible. I tried a few commercial bagged mixes before settling on Foxfarm Ocean Forest mix. Your biggest issue will be watering. I assume you don't have a spigot outdoors but you can attach a hose thread adapter to a kitchen sink and run a hose out to the balcony. The hotter it gets the more watering you will need to do and lugging a big flower pot back and forth is no fun as I learned last season. I am right on the coast so I was lulled into a false sense of security with the spring and summer fogs last year but got a rude shock in late summer and fall and had a hard time keeping up with watering. I grow all ornamental plants. Started out with a focus on hummingbird plants and have shifted to succulents to help keep down my water use. It may be too late already for peas in your climate but it may be worth a try anyway since the nights are probably still cool. I love my little balcony garden but I can't wait to have a yard again. Good luck!

First of all, I'm not a landscaping pro or any type of expert, just a homeowner who likes maps and plans. So I'm wondering about the actual usable amount of space in your front yard. I see a distance of 24'6" (maybe 24'8"?) from the front of the lot to the corner of the window on the right. Is the front property line the location of the curb? Will there be a sidewalk along the street in front of the house? Will it be right along the street, or will there be a parking strip (grass area) between the street and sidewalk? One of the lines in the front yard is labelled "ACHD easement." That's your county's Highway Division. It's 8' from the front property line, so it's 16'6" from the front of the house. My county doesn't allow trees -- or even tallish shrubs -- in the easement, so ask before you plant. The other line -- 12' from the property line, so only 12' 6" from the corner of the window on the right -- is the utility easement. That's another area where planting large shrubs or trees might be restricted, if power lines/pipes are underground. And hopefully they won't put any unsightly boxes in front of the house. But in any case, there may be significantly less space in front of the house where you're free to landscape as you wish, than you expect. Boise's snowfall averages only 19" per year, but you might want to ask the neighbors how much of the street snow will be dumped in your yard.

"Also I live in Florida, does the weather has something to do?" Hugely so, mid-august in FL is an impossible time to get transplants to thrive. The thing to do is give those plants you bought no further thought, and while you are waiting for fall-garden planting time - a few weeks from now - read through the many, many threads on the FL gardening forum about growing vegetables there. There are a number of veggie experts in Florida on that forum. It makes a very big difference as well as to whether you are in central florida/northwards or south central/southwards. Homestead is as different from Gainesville as Gainesville is from Atlanta, or perhaps more so. You have to do some real research, and then expect to have several seasons of severe learning curve. Being a newbie when starting in FL is if anything an advantage, because you aren't burdened by a bunch of rules from northern gardening that simply don't apply to FL.

Bodica ...you are a wonder...I was looking around trying to see what you see...wow...it is lovely to have "new" eyes. I am sorry to say that the fp in the foyer is the only one that has no fire. The chimney had to go when we opened the attic for living space. It wasn't workable anyway. The other 4 we use all the winter...even in Alabama:). They are all gas inserts...Victorian. We have the LR one and the DR one and the one in the kitchen and one in the MBR. You saw that we opened the attic space in 2002 and added 2 bedrooms and a bath and great room and office area w/ bookcases. It is 1300 zq ft up there and 2700 sq ft down...lots to clean ! Mr Abbott built the house in 1890. He was the first photographer in Opelika and took many pictures. Unfortunately his widow cleaned out and threw away EVERYTHING when he died. So so sad. All that history lost. The whole 7 block x 7 block area is a registered historic district. There is another on the Southside of town that is growing and changing all the time. The individual house is not registered though. You saw the Photobucket album by now I am sure. There are tons of pics of the area in there for Christmas and the porch tour we have and then the Spring pics I took as well as the kitchen remodel and the evolving gardens...I am struggling with those:). You are too too sweet. I really appreciate ALL you have said as well as all the others. The piano can't be over there as the window shines on it...tuning is affected with 5 min of direct sun. So I will take a pic and show you all what we did. Also got a wonderful centerpiece bowl for the DR table. Moved the china cab and then put it back. It looked funny in the front corner since the mantle is there and sticks out...anyway I think it works. I now need one more wonderful piece for wine glasses etc. Needs to be light wood and rustic sort of or painted wood. Maybe a dark yellow...rubbed old painted finish...anyway will have to "shop" which I don't like... gracie you are so kind ! Thank you. I looked at the cord covers...35.00 !! Are there some that are not so "fussy"...I want smoother or rougher fabric...does that make sense? I'll post pics in a bit...I am fixing a huge dinner for DS1 and DIL as a house warmong for their new apt. THANK YOU >>>>C