Blooms come in many colors and can be solid colors or bi-colors. Blooms appear in summer and last until frost. During the heat of summer blooming slows down. There are now heat tolerant types that will continue to bloom in the heat. Petunias prefer full sun or light shade.
Marigolds come in many colors of yellow, orange, red, and white.
Full sun is required for best blooming and dead heading to continue blooming. The blooms appear early spring and will last until frost. They are bad about getting spider mites during dry weather so wet the foliage well when you water to help discourage this pest. Marigolds will re-seed themselves. Creeping Zinnias are not at all like the taller type.