I put down some new bulbs last fall, so I had plenty of daffodils earlier this spring.
A previous owner of my house did a beautiful job in the garden, so I've had to do very little. Over the past few years, I've put in a few roses, some hostas, some lady's mantle, the aforementioned bulbs, and that's about it.
I mainly grow annuals, and mainly do container gardening (*#$&@#$ deer). I'm trying a new breed of tomato and several new herbs this year.
That crepe myrtle is an interesting idea. Maybe next year I'll give it a try, if I'm not too far north.