Annuals are somewhat despised by "serious gardeners," who prefer perennials....
David Beaulieu
Pink petunia picture.
But if you're landscaping for "curb appeal," for instance, there may be a place in your plantings for annuals. Annuals provide color for long stretches of time, and they do so immediately: that is, most people buy annuals from nurseries and garden centers, where they are typically sold in-bloom.
The following resource will give you a little taste of the annuals at your disposal: