Question
I would like some guidance.  I live in Central Illinois so your Kentucky address appealed to me.  :)

I work approx 50-60 hrs per week and I would like to have more "lasting" color during the summer to fall months with my plants around the house with minimal maintenance.

I have daffodils & crocus - March thru April
I have a rhododenren bush (sp.?) - April thru May
I have tiger lilies - May thru mid June
I have all green bushes and plants - June thru Oct. (i.e. I have many questions I could ask one at a time)

I need help to landscape properly for more lasting "colorful" plants which are hopefully perennials which I would have the time to weed & feed as needed.  Annual plantings just aren't my cup of tea.

Can you assist me?

Thanks for any information.

Answer
Deb,
I know exactly what you mean.Summer annuals take a lot of extra time and energy that lots of busy people just don't have enough of. They are usually just "icing" the way I look at it.But I am such a flower freak that I make it my business to have a lot of everything and my customers always get the best of both,because I'm familiar with a wide scope of plants.But I know which customers don't have time to water and take even very minimal time to care for certain types of plants,especially annuals.It also makes my job  a lot harder,so I only plant the types of plants that require very little maintenance.Here is my list of the best low maint. plants and all year color.(It is possible!) *Remember foliage also provides color,it doesn't have to have a bloom to be a stand out perennial.:
Start with spring blooming bulbs:Tulips,Daffodils,Grape Hyacinths are a MUST for early spring color.Also try some Wood Hyacinth,Blue Scilia,Crocus,Snowdrops,Irises

Lowest maintenance Perennials:Spring blooming perennials:Lady's Mantle,Bleeding Heart,Dianthus,Creeping Phlox,Columbine,Early Daylilies,Larkspur,Forget me nots,Catmint(my fav.Blooms from spring til fall!)
Summer blooming perennials:Yarrow,Coneflowers,Black Eyed  Susans,Daylilies,Oriental lilies,Tiger lilies,Asiatic lilies,Artemesia(silver foliage),Tradescentia,Veronica,Chrysanthemum,Shasta  Daisy,Sedums,Coreopsis,Russian  Sage,Lavender,Thyme,Catmint,Michaelmas Daisy,Astilbe,Foxglove,Herbs,Ornamental grasses(VERY low maintenance).

Low maintenance color from shrubs:
Spring Flowering shrubs like Forsythia,Azaleas, Roses,Mountain Laurel,Rhododendron,
Summer blooming shrubs: Lilacs,Hydrangeas,Butterfly bush,Dwarf Crape Myrtles

Vines are easy to: Clematis,Silver lace vine(Autumn Clematis),Hydrangea,Climbing roses,Hummingbird vine
Annual vines:Morning Glory.And my favorite, a nightime beauty and very fragrant Moonflower vine.

Hope this is helpful to you.Have a great summer!