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Gardening 101

When you're a mom, having a place that's all your own is sometimes necessary to maintaining your sanity. A garden gives you that place right outside your patio door. But what you don't need is more demands. The key to an easy flower garden is all in the picking of your plants. Focus on those that are very easy to grow, advises Ann Lapides, owner of Sugar Creek Gardens in Kirkwood, Mo., a suburb of St. Louis. What characteristics do these plants have? "They don't need great soil, are very forgiving if they've missed being watered, plus they look gorgeous for months." Lapides shares some of her favorites for a low-maintenance, high-pleasure garden.