Hey Deanna,
Your post reminds me alot of my first post here many moons ago . Allow me to share with you the great advice I received :D

1. DO YOUR RESEARCH. Go to the library, buy flower and gardening magazines, look up flowerbed pictures and designs, make regular visits to your local garden center. Take notes on what YOU LIKE: colors, for example, or perennial versus annual flowers.
2. Make a list of flowers and plants YOU like, depending on the season. Check to see if the plants you like fit your zone or are considered difficult or easy.
3. Don't be afraid to ask questions here and at the garden center.
4. Make a plan or drawing of what you'd like. Does the fence face south or north? How many hours of sunlight hits this fence? What's the soil like? (dry and sandy? rich and fertile? wet and soggy?) There's a plant for each situation.
How large a bed do you want? 2ft or 6 ft deep?
5. When planting perennials, plant a minimum of 3 plants together for a desired effect. Check the blooming season so you'll have flowers throughout the season, not just 2 weeks in May or October. Any open spaces can be filled with annuals, nooooooooo problem.
6. Finally, think big... but start small. There are no finalities here, that's the fun in gardening: it's always changing. And remember, foliage plants can be just as fun as flowering plants!

So what do you think? Are you up for the challenge, or should I say... a great adventure? We're all here to help you out, so feel free to ask any question. The more specific, the better. LOL