garden advice?

Most of my back yard was obviously well-planned by someone, and it's lovely for most of the year. Bulbs bloom (in stages) in the spring, there are pretty bushes in the summer/fall (some of which flower), and in general there's usually something interesting going on at any time from about March to about October. (I'm horticulturally challenged, so I can't actually name any of these things other than the bulbs.)

There's also one strip of grass that was never worked on. I'd like to plant something there, but I have basically no clues. Any advice?

The place in question runs most of the length of the garage (I guess that's about 15-20 feet?) and is about 4 feet deep. It's next to the garage, so it's partial shade rather than full sun. Obviously, whatever I put there shouldn't have root systems so big that they would interfere with the garage.

I'd like something that blooms in the summer, and ideally blooms for a while. (This should be enough room to plant a few different things, which might help that goal.) This space is bounded by a sidewalk that I use a lot, so whatever I put there shouldn't be too aggressive about spilling out into the sidewalk. No thorns, please. I dislike pale pink but like pretty much all other flower colors.

I wonder if lilac is suitable. I don't know how long it blooms or what its light requirements are.

Suggestions welcome!

(no subject)

"In our own native land, in defense of the freedom that is our birthright, and which we ever enjoyed till the late violation of it -- for the protection of our property, acquired solely by the honest industry of our forefathers and ourselves, against violence actually offered, we have taken up arms. We shall lay them down when hostilities shall cease on the part of the aggressors, and all danger of their being renewed shall be removed, and not before."

- Thomas Jefferson, July 6, 1775

(no subject)

People near DC might want to know about this Israel solidarity rally on Monday.