If you are looking for flowers than try zinnias, geraniums  and petunias for your small garden and summer color and bulbs of daffodils and crocus for winter color. Fill in with dwarf evergreens such as compact Dwarf mugho pine, ground hugging blue rug junipers and dwarf barberries. Your local nursery can also recommend plants that do best I your area. Don't' give up. You will learn from the mistakes you make. Keep growing, Marianne Binetti