It's too bad that you cant go just a tad bit shorter than 2 to 3 feet, I had lots of suggestions for you that stays with the same one plant, but with color varations. One suggestions was to go with the Cosmic cosmos--all three colors red, orange and yellow which are totally stunning and vibrant mixed together. And incredibly easy to grow from seed! Another suggestion was Magellan zinnias, which will grow like dwarf hydrangea shrubs smothered with handsized blooms that last for months. I had blooms that did not need be removed for 4 months, I kid you not! And there is just about every color available, coral, ivory, yellow, pink, scarlet, cherry, orange, salmon. I am growing over 400 of these this year. Another suggestion was a mixture of Celosia 'Fresh Look' colors in red, orange,and yellow. Most people hate celosia because they have never had good luck with keeping them going, but the Fresh Looks are very stunning, lush, healthy plants that get just under 2 foot tall, if I remember correctly. Another suggestion was to do Gomphrena, in a mixture of colors. Gomphrena, if plants are kept together and properly spaced will grow to a 2 foot tall airy "shrub" that stands up to rain, drought, etc. I grow the "All Around Purple', 'Strawberry Fields', and other colors from Park Seed, including white, rose and bicolor rose. Dont underestimate those small colored balls! They can REALLY make a huge standout, if they are grown correctly. I second the idea of using Profusion zinnias. These are like the perfect daisy like flower! Also, the blooms did not need removed for 4 months, available in colors: cherry, white, orange, Fire (reddish orange) and Apricot (my favorite). Very easy to grow from seed. You may want to check into the Tidal wave Petunias. If you space them about 2 foot apart, they will spread out like you wouldnt believe and grow to about 2 foot tall. I have never seen a petunia grow like this before last year! Though, the silver would blend right into your house color, but they do make a purple, hot pink, and cherry color that I will be doing this year. Tidals have a massive branching system to them. Do a search on gardenweb and you will find lots of pictures and ideas for them.

The floating plant is Azolla, it is a water fern and will take over everything. Grows very fast so the easy way to control it is every few days take a bunch of it out of the pond, this will give the new plants space so that they don't start to build up into a thick mass. Azolla grows well in the heat and full sun and go dormant with the winter cold. If you put the azolla in a shaded area the color chages from green to a light red.

Hi Nomen~ Thank you for your help! I actually hate Euphorbia's :-/ But hubby had to pick something out... and I asked him recently to go find his plant in the greenhouse and he had no clue.. He just wanted to shop. lol.. medusae sounds like something he would pick . lol The little thimble cactus, blank on the real name at the moment.. Arizona snow cap or something like that.. I had just tossed in there because it's pot got knocked over. lol.. It's a Hawothia I want to add to the pot. I'll try and do a little more google.. Not sure when I can get over to Arid lands..

I also agree, its not actually a palm tree, its a yucca. They look very different from each other, but they are both considered tropical (although some yuccas are cold tolerant, the one you have is not). They make fantastic indoor plants. Just keep it by a sunny spot and water it every once in a while. Yucca guatemalensis can handle lots of sun and lots of shade, lots of drought, and a good amount of water as well. Its a very tolerant yucca, but unlike some other yuccas, this one cannot handle cold and usually dies around 25F. They are also very easy to start from cuttings. I have taken cuttings from this type of yucca, cut them in the fall, stored them in my cool garage over the winter, and rooted them the following spring with no problems! Good luck! -Alex