With an east window, your options are pretty wide-open. The least problematic plants (can be neglected for short periods without harm, not likely to have bugs, look appropriately "planty," not dangerous to you or co-workers, not high-maintenance, relatively easy to find in stores) I can think of would be: Aglaonema cvv. (Chinese evergreen) Dracaena reflexa 'Riki' Dracaena deremensis cvv. ('Janet Craig,' 'Limelight,' 'Janet Craig Compacta,' 'Warneckei,' 'Lemon-Lime'/'Goldstar') Ficus binnendijkii (long-leaf fig) Spathiphyllum cvv. (peace lily) Though they do remind some people of funerals. People also have some deep-seated need to overwater them. Yucca elephantipes (spineless yucca) Philodendron hederaceum (heart-leaf philodendron) Even my mom can even grow this. Saxifraga stolonifera (strawberry begonia) Self-propagating. Chlorophytum x 'Fire Flash' (fire flash, green orange, mandarin plant)

My Next door neighbor had some palms put in when she saw mine in my backyard. Sorry to say, that she thought that once they were put in that they would be perfect and she wouldn's have to do anything to them. She asked me several times what to do and i would give her a good long explanation on how to care for these palms and then she once asked if i would care for them.. well, i kindly said that i already had a job doing other things and when you buy these types of palms, you have to take care of them until they bcome established.. OK.,, she didnt water them. I watched as they slowly declined and i would go over to her house when she was gone to water them I would swear they would smile at me. They likes this silent treatment and the homeowner thinks they just magically grew into beautiful palmstrees.. I love them so much, i couldnt help to see them die because of her lazy attitude and to think that she could just ask anyone for help. So, yes.. i secertly watered them until they could hold their own and the are looking great. I FEEL SO GOOD WHEN I DRIVE BY AND KNOW THAT IT WAS I THAT SAVED THOSE BEAUTIFUL 20 FOOTER Palms.. She has no idea, and i wouldnt ever tell her.. She would then want me to tend to them again.. SOme people...? That is my secret... PS..dont tell her!!! LOL!!! Laura

Lynn, I'd love to come and dig - particularly pink chelone, alsromeria and amsonia "Blue Star", and if you have some phlox, that would be great too. I'm just off the GA Avenue Beltway exit so not too far... Thanks, Ann

I'll second Melva's advice on the crepe myrtles and mint. Crepe myrtles look ever so much better to me when they haven't been chopped back. Mint grows nicely here, but don't plant it in the ground as it will spread everywhere! I've had good luck with thyme, sage, oregano, marjoram, mint, and rosemary in pots. I recently put the rosemary in the ground and it's doing fine. The rest don't like full sun in the heat of the summer, at least for me. Maybe I don't water them often enough then? But, if I move them back to where they get afternoon shade, they're happy. I've tried lavender, it did really well in a pot for a couple years and even rooted itself into the ground. Then we had a bad winter and it croaked. The one I tried last year didn't make it through the summer. I'm debating trying again. As for regular plants, I like lantana, salvia greggii (Autumn Sage), Texas Sage/Cenizo, Henry Duehlberg salvia, Mystic Spires salvia, daffodils (some survive our summers better than others, I've had good luck with Ice Follies), gladiolus (although some don't come back), and iris. Oh, and cast-iron plant (aspidistra) is a good one, too. Also "Wandering Jew" (can never remember the "proper name") can be good, I've had good luck with the solid color one with thicker leaves, BUT it will spread quickly and easily and is difficult to get rid of. I've got it surrounded by the house and driveway. If you're willing to put in a bit of time and effort on amending the soil, the Earthkind roses can be easy-care once they're established. They're grown on their own roots and typically don't require pruning unless you just want to, don't need to be sprayed regularly as they're not prone to the mildews and such, and really only need to have their mulch replenished to a 3" depth every year. I also have a number of tropical and semi-tropical plants in pots that move into the greenhouse every winter. They do fine outside under the oak trees during the rest of the year. Good luck and have fun with gardening.