Help me pick a dining-room window

[spinbaby]

We have to replace the window in the dining room--it's been leaking. I'd like a bay window of some kind to put my plants into. I can get a true bay with a solid top and bottom or we can get what's called a garden window which has glass on the top and bottom as well as all sides.

The garden window seems to be a better choice for plants but I worry about the extra heat all that glass will generate in the summer in a southwest window. Also, it vents on the top and that might leak eventually. On the other hand, it comes with attractive shelves for my plants and the cats can lay on the bottom, under the plants--especially if we put a cushion there.

The bay has a bit of a roof which would block the sun when it's high in the summer. Also, it would be easy to curtain. But there are no shelves for plants and if I put plants along the wide windowsill of a bay window, the cats are likely to push them off to get themselves more sunning space.

I like the looks of the garden window better but think a traditional bay window would probably be better for resale if we sell the house (we're not planning to anytime soon).

So, any thoughts? Any experience with garden windows and the summer sun?