I live in a NYC apt house, and have a patio that is about 30 x 8, faces east. This is on the second floor, over the roof of the garage, and bounded by dividers from the patios of my neighbors. I'm not entirely new to gardening out there, but due to building makeovers that have pretty much destroyed what I had before I am basically starting over with the exception of a forsythia, lilac, crab apple tree and cherry tree that managed to survive it all.

In the past, I always went out and purchased annual flats.
This year, I am pretty much housebound, so my 'shopping' has been limited to on-line purchasing, and I decided to go the way of perennials. I also purchased a couple of bird-feeders, a bird bath, etc., and I suddenly realized that I am probably not going to have many flowers out of the baby perennials I ordered, and thus not very likely to attract many birds.

Inspired by your posts (and pictures!) about morning glory, moonflower, and wave petunias I have purchased some seeds online (hope I'm not too late). I had planned to try to cover somewhat my outer "divider" (unfortunately, made of those ugly diagonal green plastic strips) with those vines and perhaps pouches with the petunias. However, they will receive NO direct sunlight, since by the time the sun is overhead, it has moved behind another part of the building.

So my basic question is will these plants thrive without direct sunlight? I had succesfully grown morning glories and moonflowers out there before, but had them against the building wall so that they actually FACED east.

Sorry for the length of this, and thanks in advance for any help.

I sortof have a dead spot like that on my divider (I face NE and get no direct sun on the balcony in winter). In summer, it does get some sun for a bit. I have a little honeysuckle over there and I'll see if it blooms this year.

Rather than the MGs and MFs, you might want to consider something like an akebia (chocolate vine), which is supposed to be semi-evergreen and does flower and will take shade.

anyway, to second sahoyaref's post, the hiding places really seem to do it for them. i also have a small pond, and i sometimes see birds bathing and drinking there. they leave behind fertilizer, too; a little bird graffiti, sort of like "kilroy was here."
good luck with your birds :)
heidi