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So my balcony here faces east; it's afternoon and it's still getting direct sunlight. I think it's possible for me to grow some plants. Do either of you have any resources you'd suggest, or should I just go to the garden store and look pitiful?

I'd like a few herbs, but mostly flowers (Rosie can add to the list when she gets here). There's a nice wide ledge, and I could hang stuff overhead too. Help?

If you're getting pretty good sun, you can grow just about any kind of flower...well impatiens might get a little sunburnt. They like partial to full shade. Petunias are good in hanging baskets. You could just go to the garden center, pick a flower you like and check the tag to see how much sun it needs. I'd go with partial to full sun. Nicotiana is a nice flower...real fragrant and non-PC: "Flowering Tobbaco." Last year I got a miniature potted rose that does well.

I like lavendar but more for it's smell than for it's flower so I guess you would call it an herb. One herb I just have to have is basil. I've also got chives (I use it on salads sometimes instead of green onions), mint (I use mostly in tea). Lemon balm (smells like lemon) and catnip I use mostly in tea...that's my "sleepy time blend". Miss Cat seems to prefer store-bought catnip so she doesn't bother my stuff much. I've also got parsley and lemon grass. Lemon grass is supposed to be used in Asian dishes but so far I've only used it in tea. I've got some rosemary that I like to use with chicken and some thyme I put in soup. I guess your herb selection depends on what kind of cooking you like.