What are you planning on planting, annuals? Perennials, or shrubs? What's in the beds now? Do you have a picture?

And what does the house look like?

This sounds like a big assignment. Friends who don't understand what they're asking for sometimes make unreasonable requests of friends who garden... and the gardeners should feel free to say so if it is an impossible task.

Mind you, every task is doable if you spend the money. Buy big plants for instant effect. Is he willing to pay, or asking you to do this on a shoestring?

Annuals are the answer here- for a good show in June. I'd stick to a few- mass plant away from the house and get more detail (blowsy containers) near the house. Stick with 2 colors, maybe a third as accent. You could use some early summer perennials and shrubs, but if you fill the area with them, then you won't have anything the rest of the year. And a new planting will look sparse if things are spaced correctly.

As for matching- what are the site conditions- are they the same for all beds? How formal/symmetrical is the design and the house? Are these beds irrigated? How much are they willing to water?

Pete is leaning towards perennials. The areas are mostly shade. No budget.... and I will be paid for doing this. He already has a few scattered shrubs, hostas, daylilies planted. I do have some pics, but not sure how to get them on here :(

go to a photo hosting website like photobucket.com and open a free account. Follow the directions there to upload your digital photos from your computer. Then you can either copy and paste the "tag" from the uploaded photo into your message body here, or copy and paste the "url" from your photo into the "optional link url" box you see when you preview your post here or reply to someone else's post. You'll see what the tag and url means after you've uploaded to photobucket.
There are other photo hosting websites, but I haven't used them, so can't help you there.

No budget as in no limit, or as in no money???

And yes, do post pictures, will make it much easier.

The "party" concept and "perennials" don't mix, in my view. It may be that I don't understand your commission, and/or maybe you might need to clarify it yourself. For example, does he want to impress folks that he has permanent perennial borders like something he's seen in magazine photos? That would be a major landscape job itself, and would be highly unlikely to come together in great form and bloom a month after planting. Getting shade perennials to look "festive" is even harder, as typically they are more reserved or bloom for short period. So, I would go there only if you are ready for a big job AND he mostly wants to re-design his garden and is not really so focused on the graduation thing. On the other hand, if it's really for the celebration, party, and such, the annuals thing are the sure deal for color, pretty, festive and all thatif you choose things for your region. Does he just have a kind of vague idea that perennials are cool? YOu may have to educate him about what plants do and do not do on demand/command. That said, it is still possible to include some things other than annuals as part of a plan for drama or form such as to dress up a deck or patio--some tallish evergreens in containers, or something. You should come up with a plan that seems likely to work, and offer it, or bail out. Let them express some color preferences. Then be sure they agree with the plan and are not going to say later, but I thought we said you would use.....