Another question is whether you want to start from seeds, or buy small plants. Even at "six for $2", I would rather start flowers from seed because I have some chicken ancestry: I am cheap, cheap cheap.
One packet of seeds costs less than several small plants, and provides hundreds of flowers, and can be saved (dry, dark and cool) for years.
But for your first year, buy plants at Lowes, Home Depot, a supermarket, or, best, at a plant sale by some charitable organization. Pot them up into larger pots and enjoy the blooms while you experiment with starting from seeds.
BTW, look around your neighborhood and the neighborhoods of all your friends. Look for great gardens.
Find some plants that you wish YOU could grow.
Talk to the owner if you can.
"What IS that beautiful blue flower over there?"
"How do you keep your beds so free of weeds?"
"I'm just starting and would LOVE to grow something like THAT one!"
"Your garden is so lovely that I HAD to come over and say Thank You."
Is there a gardener in the world who doesn't respond to a compliment by giving away extra seedlings they just started, or clumps of perennials they've divided but can't stand to throw away?
