Save the exotic plants for a little later in your gardening career. Check with your local nursery for a variety of plants that are suitable to your location. Water as soon as you are finished planting to settle the soil around the roots. Do not add fertilizer until you begin to see new growth. Part of the fun of gardening is watching your plants mature and grow with your help.
Flowers are very rewarding to grow.
Use a watering wand to break the force flow of the water. Keep the water near the surface of the soil, not the foliage. The surface of the soil should feel dry to the touch before you add water to your new garden. Overwatering is the No. 1 cause of death in most landscape plants. Inc. How things get done.