Specialty Gardening: Small Container Pots under Gazebo, 0 by Danika

Danika wrote:
Hello, all! First of all, I LOVE THIS SITE! Thank you for having it!

Here's my question: I have a 12x12 square gazebo with three shelves each in all four corners. I found some bargin terracotta containers in animal shapes that I know my toddler would just adore! I found six of them for $5 each. They're on the small side (I've attached a picture). I'm not that great about watering during the week. I usually save "fun stuff" like gardening for weekends when I'm not working my butt off to pay for childcare! And I know terracotta dries out fairly quickly.

Can anyone think of something that would work well in dry, mostly-shady containers but can tolerate our hot, humid Louisiana summers; or am I asking too much?

Thanks for your input!

Danika :)