What are the dimensions of the strip? What direction does it face? How much sunlight dies it receive>

It's about 4ft x 24ft, and gets almost full sunlight. It's up against a chain fence. It's full of bramble right now along with some annual honesty, but we want to add more to spruce it up and help beautify it

There are milkweed that are not aggressive such as Asclepias tuberosa. Just remove the seed pods before they ripen.

Try Gaura.

All of the various Yarrows (Achillea) are attractive.

i dont understand why you are asking for the help of a cut flower expert .. aka.. florist????

whats the soil type .. does it drain ... if you dont know.. go dig a hole and fill it with water.. and tell us what happens ..

are you willing to water as needed all summer long.. no extended vacations.. or willing to hire help ..

do you want to start from seed.. or buy plants ... perennials from seed usually dont bloom first year.. and neither might small transplants.. which means.. are you willing to invest in a lot of larger.. perhaps expensive perennials ...

are you willing to use faster .. usually cheaper annuals while you grow perennials to blooming size ...

ii think you might be best off.. not doing the whole plot ... if you are a total newb ... do a smaller hunk.. learn your brains out .... and spend the rest of summer making the soil better in the rest.. if you find yourself motivated to gardening ...

ken

I've grown a lot of trees, veggies, houseplants, and outdoor greenery before; I've just never really worked with flowers. So while I know it's not necessarily standard florist work, I'm looking for someone like a florist or landscaper who knows what looks good together. I came here for help with flowers because I don't know about them and I recognize that.

In terms of the soil, it has good drainage with sand a little bit of clay making it slightly alkaline. I am good with using various soil supplements if need be. I enjoy working with plants and don't mind the labor, however, obviously less continuous labor is nice. I will probably be comfortable going out there to work twice a week or so if need be (beyond simple watering, that is).

I prefer perennials, other than that I don't have much preference for the other stuff.

https://www.hgtv.com/outdoors/flowers-and-plants/flowers/butterfly-garden-flowers-pictures

Here's a good list.

I wouldn't be without spring bulbs in any mixed border.

A clematis (or a few) on the fence would be pretty. I don’t really see butterflies on them, but would look nice. My Jeana phlox attracts butterflies, mostly giant Swallowtails.

Find a good, locally owned plant nursery near you and ask their advice. Bring photographs of the area you want to plant. Also, look at the bloom times for the plants you are considering. Think about staggering the bloom times throughout the border so that you have a beautiful strip from spring to fall.

Coreopsis, calamint, nepeta, and Rozanne geranium are all perennials that will give you dependable blooms all summer long

Anyone who grows flowering plants will know what looks good together. A florist knows what looks good together in a vase or flower arrangement, not necessarily what looks good in a flower garden. Also, a florist uses flowers and greenery that won't be found growing in a flower garden, with the exception of roses, daises, etc.

I hope you will either take pds290's advice, or do some research on your own. Also, you need to learn how to care for what you plant, and be patient; it takes time and the only way to get an instant garden is to hire a landscaper.