Succulents do well in windowsills. Be sure to rotate the pots a half-turn every few days for even growth. They don't need a lot of water.

They're also fairly insect-resistant, although a few may attract mealy bugs. In that case, simply shake off the bugs, wipe the plants with a wet rag, or use a basic natural spray made up of non-detergent soap augmented with vegetable oil and liquefied onion or garlic additives.

Here are some friendly varieties:

€ Lace cactus: Can resist over-watering. Most varieties grow from seed, have a wide range of bloom colors and generally remain small, a couple of inches high to a couple of feet.

€ Lewisia: Another hardy, flowering succulent that can be nursed along in rock gardens. Many rebloom through the summer. Named after Capt. Meriwether Lewis who returned home with several samples collected in Oregon during the Lewis and Clark Expedition. They do best in coarse soils and without much water.

€ String of Hearts or rosary vine: An easily rooted trailing vine that can grow several feet long near a sunny window. Succulent, heart-shaped leaves of different colors.

€ Hens and chicks, or semps: Low-growing succulents. Hens are the main plant; chicks are the numerous offspring. There are many different species of this low-maintenance, hardy perennial, ranging in color from green to purple.

Source: The Associated Press