I have a balcony something like yours, cocked to slightly face northeast, slatted, but on the end. The end faces west and the other end is blocked. I have an overhead balcony too, limiting the light somewhat. I've lived here for 5 years (6th spring), so have had lots of time to experiment. Still experimenting! LOL

Currently I have:

Perennials
Climbing rose (on west end)
Peony (just planted last year, but it's coming up now)
Pink carpet hanging rose (both roses were planted last year)
Columbine
Hosta
Astilbe
Pansies
Ornamental grass
Fern (no sign yet this year)
Great Blue Lobelia (no sign this year)

Vines
3 clematises
Morning glories - planted indoors, ready to go out if they don't die first from planting too soon, last year they did fine
I grew a Sweet Autumn clematis for three years but got tired of it and wanted something else.
Shasta Daisies (treated as an annual so I could plant the peony)

Water Garden
This did well the first year because I had the right plants in it. It's declined every year since. This year we're going to clean it out and only put things in that will grow in the shade, like water lettuce, water hyacinth, a tiny bit of duckweed or Spanish Lace. We haven't decided what else.

Herbs
I'm not much for veggies, but do grow a little parsley, chives and some feverfew in a self-watering pot. I've grown a lot of other herbs that have done well. Here's this year's pot:

The feverfew came back from last year. The parsley is a little small, so will replace it. Chives are doing fine.

Bulbs
Snowdrops
Puschkinia
Tulips
Daffodils
Lilies (Asiatic and Orientals)

Annuals Last Year
Torenia
Sweet alyssum
Coleus (I have Glennis coming)
Plectranthus
Mimulus
Verbena
Blue Moon lobelia (does great every year)

Here's what it looks like so far this year:

We look west to the mountains with Denver in the foreground.

I know what you mean about some things not succeeding because of something you did. I let my mimulus dry out last year, same with astilbe. But I'm DETERMINED this year not to let anything dry out!! I have a few self-watering pots, and they're the greatest, but then I don't think they need as much watering and I forget to fill the reservoirs. It's a lot harder in August than it is in June! LOL

Hope you'll post some photos too.

Here's two of last year:

East End

This is fun! I hope you've got high speed access. I didn't realize how big these photos would be. Sorry...

Judith

P.S. I'm in Arvada & on Cable. I hope those on dial up will have the patience to let the page load, or they'll be missing out!

I was just thinking of the same thing about seeds. I ordered some, but it's only 4 weeks till good weather, so I'm about a month late. I'll save 'em till next year.

Thanks for the compliments, but I was very worried today about that hail, and I see you had it yesterday. It can really wreak havoc with newly emerging plants, to say nothing about demolishing tulip leaves. But we sure do need the moisture. This morning we were still an inch short of normal.

Well I went out to take some pics of what I've got so far and that Crazy Colorado Spring Weather just can't seem to make up it's mind!!!

7:00pm





5 minutes later...

I'll try again tomorrow ...lol!