Master Gardener: Options for water-wise, easy-care perennials

Q: I’m trying to reduce the work and expense of replacing annual border flowers every spring. Can you suggest a water-wise, easy-care perennial that could substitute for the bright yellow and orange marigolds I usually plant?
A: Although there are a number of possibilities, one of my favorites is the gaillardia, also called blanket flower. They typically grow to about 18 inches tall and wide and produce 2- to 3-inch daisy-like flowers in warm shades of yellow and orange. Flowers are produc