HI, welcome! I'm sure you will get lots of suggestions from well seasoned gardeners, but for starters, look at the FAQ at the top of the forum; there is a link to things that grow well in full sun in Georgia, and a link to things you want to stay away from as they are invasive. Good luck!

Southern plants that are easy to grow and hard to kill: holly, hosta, azalea, camellia, daylilies, canna, hydrangea. All will grow in part sun. There are lots more, but you could make a garden with just those.

Also, you can learn a lot from older postings. There was a question about plants in Georgia a week or so ago.

I applaud your enthusiasm! But be warned, it's not the best time of the year to be putting in bushes or other perennials because it's about to get seriously hot. If you can't commit to watering frequently and babying them until they get their roots established then I recommend mostly sticking with annuals til it gets cool again in the fall. Impatiens and begonias for part-shade are failsafe and you've got tons of options for full sun. You'll still have to baby annuals but they won't take as long to find their roots since they generally grow faster than perennials.

Dawgs, I should also look up soil on this forum. We've discussed a few different types of soil and ammending mainly for drainage and water retention/drought. That is very important for the success of your garden.

GGG

Full Sun - Daylillies (they multiply and in a few years you will have lots and lots). Butterfly bushes, daisys, pansies (fall/winter) most annuals summer.

Partial Shade - Hydrangeas, azaleas, camelias (the last two are evergreen so you will have something green in the winter)

Shade - Hostas.

Thanks all for the great advice! I'm not sure what we'll end up with, but hopefully it will turn out nice. Thanks again!

Do you have any gardening books? I recommend the 'Southern Living Gardening Book' and 'Passalong Plants' by Bender and Rushing. Ask at your local library for regional gardening books. Books about plants and gardens in general may lead you astray if they're written for colder areas than outs.

Have you visited your local County Extension Agency? They have wonderful little pamphlets on gardening with lists of specific plants. Come to think of it, you can find those online:

Landscape Plants for Georgia

Perennials for Georgia Gardens

Bulbs for Georgia Gardens

Flowering Annuals, too

Good luck. If you get down near the Florida line, stop by and I'll give you some cannas and crocosmia and some rooted hydrangeas and and a gardenia and some seeds. If not, maybe some other gardener will take you under her wing, as many have done for me.

Nell

If you need a large evergreen shrub with a very fragrant small white bloom...tea olive. Will perfume your yard. Varigated lirope is good for borders. I agree about waiting for fall. You just about can't water enough to make new plants live now. Fall planting will settle in and be beautiful next spring and summer. They get their roots down during the cooler weather and aren't as stressed when summer rolls around.