First off, welcome. =)

Second, I would suggest meandering on over to one of my fav. threads, Container Gardening. Pictures always help as well. I would love to suggest some things, but I would need to know some details first, such as: light, how much time you want to spend on them, specific colors, etc.

I do believe I understand what you are looking for...a more homey feel. So different textures, varieties and fullness would be important, as well as placement.

I'll keep a look out for a reply either here or in Container Gardening. =)

Well as far as light goes were are on a corner lot of an acre we get full hot sun. Practically everywhere. Good rain most of the time. I spend alot of time outside so time on them is not a huge issue. I just want palnts that are lush, big bloomes, smells great, and beautiful. The only things ive planted so far are some tulips, sumnflowers, and cosmos, and a rose ( yellow) everything did good, I got rid of everything last year because we thought we were leaveing, well Im not gettin rid of anything anymore because were going to stay here a couple more years and I can move everything with us when we do leave ( just have to make the movers and the hubby work harder, hahah)Here a few pictures, In one you can see my rose in it but its ot doing anything yet of course its new.....

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Some things I did when I knew my garden was going to be temporary were:

1. Planted expensive perennials in movable containers

2. To "camoflage" the containers, I planted easy to grow, inexpensive annuals - usually seed paks, around the base of the perennial planters.

Check out the Annuals forum for easy things in your zone, some will re-seed too, so you don't really have to treat them as "annuals" since they come back from the seeds they drop on their own.

In my dry winter zone 7 a lot of things probably re-seed that might not in your area, but here a list of some of my "aggressive" re-seeders:
Alyssum
Morning Glory
Honesty (Lunaria)
Nasturtiums
Monarda/Bee Balm
Amaranthus (Love-Lies-Bleeding)
Hollyhocks
Sweet Peas
Coreopsis
Nigella (Love in a mist)
Oregano (the herb)

By planting these, you can get some quick color and plants this year around your planters, and if they successfully re-seed, then the plants will keep coming back. If the landlord complains, you could always claim ignorance and say that you only planted annuals thinking they would only be around the year you planted them :P

Oh thats great! lol....:) The funny thing is last year I put down mulch in the pictures, and moved and cut back everything, the people who rented before us they didnt do anything they were young but lazy, weve know our landlords before we moved in they are friends. They really dont care what I do. The only thing is I feel like they want me to make this place look great for the next batch of renters, but I dont have the pocket book for it and Im not doing it even if I did. It's not my house. You know what I mean. Its kinda dumb to throw your money away.....

This is just the progress I made today me and the boys...lol....

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Well did al little more work today! Any other suggestions...im open....

Before...
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After....

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