How about water chestnuts? I tried them last year but just as they got going nicely in my fish pond, something took a shine to them and ate them all up! They make nice foliage, not sure about the flowers, mine never got that far. Cannas LOVE having wet feet and will even grow right IN the water. Gorgeous flowers and they are also edible, I just learned.
All I can say about the crazy neighbor lady is "her loss!". Funny how there are negative people like that who just don't get it - how much they miss out on by not taking the positive attitude. Most of them think everyone is like them, but that's because of their whole approach.
