Suntan answers:

How about combining a few things for all season interest, texture and color…

For instance: 3 burning bushes grouped together in the center like a triangle (one in front, two in back) and then on either side try some little princess spirea in clumps of three;
plant some tulip and dafodil bulbs in Oct. Between the spirea and burning bushes; leave the other areas open for annuals or something showy. Remember to use the rule of 3 when grouping colors or like plants. And don’t get too many different things going on….

For a focal point try a pink flowered smoke bush surrounded by the three burning bushes. As they grow, you can keep the burning bushes like a lower hedge and let the smoke bush grow taller. I did something similar and loved it!
It may take the smoke bush 2 or 3 years to fill out and “flower” but when it does… WOW! They look like pink clouds of smoke. I’m not kidding!

You may also want to give your plan a formal look by finishing each end with an aborvitae or
forsythia which will bloom yellow. I’d keep the forsythia thin and tall and control the heighth of or the arborvitae.

Something like this:

a-arborvitae or forsythia
s-smoke bush
b-burning bushes
n-annuals
p-spirea
d-daffodils & tulips

a p p b s b p p a
nnnnnn p ddd b ddd p nnnnnn

Suntan answers:

Better homes and gardens is probably the best place for you to get started. Then you could go to your local hardware store and look at the books in their book section. You could download some free landscape design software that may help like google scetchup. Then look at some websites of landscape pictures just for inspiration. The best thing you could do is talk to a local nursery and they will always be able to help you .They will help you with the design to be able to sell you the plants. The local nurseries will know much more than the large hardware stores about plants and design. Below are a bunch of links to help get you started, Good Luck.

Suntan answers:

Find plants that are attractive and native to your region. Then when you have time, go to the library and find a book on landscaping. You should base your decision on what you read. I have a flower garden in my front yard 6X6 foot. That is a beginning. Draw a map on what areas you want to landscape. Good luck. Email Me at yahoo dot com and I will send you a photo.