The hot West side of a house is perfect for heat loving shrubs like potentilla, rock rock, mediterranean herbs such as rosemary, basil and oregano and growing tomatoes either in pots or beds under the eaves. If you are thinking color than plant heat-loving geraniums, petunias and zinnias. sedums, succulents, blue fescue grass, blue star junipers and spring blooming bulb like dwarf daffodils would also thrive. If you add organic matter like compost to your soil when you plant, the soil will be able to hold more moisture and your plants will require less water. For more ideas, hope to see you at one of my talks near Auburn this spring or even at the Washington State Fair in Puyallup. Keep growing, Marianne Binetti