You don't have a dreary yard; you have a blank canvas just waiting to be filled with color. It looks like there are some orange poppies blooming in this otherwise empty bed. Let that be your inspiration (poppies are hard to move -- let's keep them) and this perennial bed can be filled with bright red, orange and yellow blooms. We'll name it the Sunset Garden.

Start with three shrubs of "Magic Carpet" spiraea at the back of the bed planted in a triangle pattern with the one in the middle back the farthest. This gives you a little spot to tuck in a sundial on a pedestal. A good focal point for a garden inspired by sunny colors.

Around the sundial, plant the low growing golden sedum "ogon" or "Angelina" and add some spiky red blood grass in a semi-circle around the sedums.

Next use "stella" reblooming daylilies near the middle of the bed, (bright yellow) some hot orange geum near the front and bright red dahlias, salvia and rudbeckia daisies in the back. Group these plants so that you have at least three of each type. Thay way you get drifts of color rather than tiny dabs.

Now you can link all the perennials with a creeping annual like red verbena (use at least six plants) and cool down the hot colors with some white alyssum or white petunias. A touch of gray from Dusty Miller in any blank spots will also help to highlight the hot, bright colors.

I think you'll need sunglasses to enjoy this bright spot of color.