I can't believe I am posting about this....

Over the past few years something horrible has happened to me. The domestic desires of making a home, cooking, cleaning, flowers, gardening, reading Martha  suddenly became important to me. Before I moved into my apartment, my room mate and I would read gardening magazines, plan out our flower beds and decided which annuals and perennials we would buy and start the Monday after Mother's Day planting things.

After I moved, I did some potted plants but nothing serious, potted plants aren't nearly as fun as actual flower beds. So Justin has gladly given up his two flower beds in front of his house so I can have some fun. 

Today when I was reading Ree she said it was time to plan. Now we all know by now I have a Type A personality about most things.  This is one of them. I want Justin's neighbors (ie his family) to appreciate the flowers and think they look nice. I want Justin to enjoy them too (and me).  I mean after all he is giving up extra gardening space for me, so I have to do this right.

I have been searching for plants that will live in our zone, searching for the most bang for my buck, and trying to figure out exactly what I  ummm we want.

So if you have any advice let me know, please. I would like to keep the flowers alive all summer and keep the beds weeded and looking taken care of. We need color, hardy, and easy to take care of plants. Should be easy, right?