If you're a beginner gardener, here are a few hints to help you get started with picking the right plants and flowers that won't give you big headaches.

We recommend that you check out the eight varieties of plants listed below, then look at easy-care annual and perennial plants and flowers for your first garden.

What's funny about gardens is that the first year when plants are just getting rooted and settled, it may look like you still have a somewhat bare garden. The second year, there is growth but maturity and foliage hasn't peaked yet. Finally, in the third year, it's as if your garden has exploded with life, and the images of that once-naked garden are long gone.

Perennials are enjoyable because they don't require much attention from season to season. On average, they last about five years. What works out well with perennials is that they are good foundation plants, and offer lots of lively green to contrast with the vibrancy of the annual flowers. Perennials don't require replanting or seeding for the next season. They'll just stay with you as your garden evolves.

The great thing about annuals is that they bloom for a season and add splashes of color to a summer garden. You can take them out after one season or allow them to reseed after bloom for the following season. Unlike perennials, they usually don't have a long lifespan.