First Iteration

For my first iteration I decided to focus on water-wise plants, both perennials and annuals.
Here is the arrangement of planters and the furniture on the balcony.  Big planters host vine which I will train on the railing.

Planters

I decided to stick with plastic planters.  Clay planters are too heavy and do not hold moisture nearly as well as plastic.  They do allow plants to breath and water evaporation may cool the plant in summer.  Nevertheless, the thought of hauling clay planter to the 3rd floor (did I mention I have no elevator?)  was for me enough to reject this idea.  I found that Lowes offers the best selection of plastic planters.  I also used Amazon.

1. 2ft Planter

Name	Latin Name	Type	Size
Coral Honeysuckle	Lonicera sempervirens 'Major Wheeler'	vine
Hot Lips Sage	Salvia microphylla 'Hot Lips'	shrub	3'x3'
Lantana	Lantana camara	mounding annual, perennial or shrub	1-2' H x 2' W

I use the annual lantana as a spiller in this planter.

2. Planters Combo

Name	Latin Name	Type	Size
Spider Flower	Cleome hybrid Senorita Rosalita®		24-48" x 24"
Early Sunrise Yellow Coreopsis	Coreopsis grandiflora 'Early Sunrise'		18" x 24
Tsavo Golden Yellow Sanvitalia	Sanvitalia Procumbens	trailing annual

I should admit I bought these plants on a whim, without prior in-depth research.

3. 2ft Planter

Name	Latin Name	Type	Size
Coral Honeysuckle	Lonicera sempervirens 'Major Wheeler'	vine
English lavender	Lavandula angustifolia	mounding perennial
Gaura Passionate Blush	Gaura lindheimeri 'Ballerina™ Blush'		12-18" H

Here lavender and gaura can grow to about the same (pretty significant!) size.  May need to replant.  No annuals.
BTW this planter is not that good looking.

That's it, folks!