In article ,
"Cynthia" wrote:

I live in Sydney and we have a north and a west facing balcony.

snip

I'd like to grow:

* 2 to 3 small potted trees. Max height around 220 cm including the pot they
stand in.

Whatever you choose, make them all the same.

* Some herbs for use in the kitchen.
* A west facing screen of plants which needs to be between 120 cm and 190 cm
in height (including the pot they stand in). They would run alongside a
balcony wall which is approx 95 cm high and around 10 m long. I would need
some plants which were useful for their height to block the wind and to
provide some shade, and also some smaller plants which would sit at the
front providing some contrast to the taller plants behind them. I'm keen to
find a few plants which would trail over the edge of the pots, softening the
hard edges.

I'd be inclined to use Coast Rosemary (Westringia fruticosa) -- very tough and
useful for hedging. Trendy grey foliage and small white flowers, so easy to
use as a backdrop. Your herb collection could be the trailing plants.

* A pretty plant to grow on the pergola. Something which can be easily
managed, preferably something which flowers, but I'm keen not to attract too
may insects as we will be eating under the pergola. Butterflies are fine,
but I need to keep away wasps, spiders and general creepy crawlies which may
drop down our backs or into the food. I have never done this, is it possible
to combine the two? (eating under a pergola which has plants on it, without
the bugs).

You want plants, you get bugs. You get bugs, you get their predators, who
would prefer not to be on your food or down your back.

Passionfruit? Bower of beauty?

* There is also a section of north facing balcony which is a glass, about
150 cm in height and 5 m long AND a very narrow section of wall to the east
which is about 190 cm tall, 2.5 m long.

A good spot for one of your trees!

* I'm keen to mix plants, using both native and non-invasive foreign
species.

* So far there are no cats around, so I'd like to encourage small native
birds and butterflies.

* If anyone can give me advice for keeping down the number of spiders in a
friendly way, that would be great too.

Plastic plants. Why are you so worried about spiders? Leave them alone and
they'll eat your mozzies. Besides, it's fascinating watching them spinning
their websz.

--
Chookie -- Sydney, Australia
(Replace "foulspambegone" with "optushome" to reply)

"In Melbourne there is plenty of vigour and eagerness, but there is
nothing worth being eager or vigorous about."
Francis Adams, The Australians, 1893.