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Doronicum [leopard's bane] is a good plant to mix in the middle of the border. It's one of the earliest to leaf out and bloom - gorgeous , bright yellow daisy-like flowers when not much else is showing. Their drawback is that they usually go dormant by summer and disappear completely.
Aubrieta, Arabis, and Iberis are often evergreen and bloom early spring in the order mentioned. Lots of colors to chose from and they are all strong growers - you don't need many plants to fill in space quickly.
I like to edge with the smaller hostas and ferns in a shady areas. Ophiopogon nigrens [Black mondo grass] is a shade-loving show stopper and ever"black" to boot. It's expensive but worth it. Hemoracallis - the dwarf varieties - work well too.
For sunnier areas my fav has to be cerastium [snow in summer]. It sports very short, grey foliage [evergreen here] with lots of tiny white flowers. Creeping sedums [Vera Jamieson, tri-color, seiboldiana are only a few] have many different foliage colors and are also sometimes evergreen. Helianthemum [rock rose] has lovely flower and foliage colors.
The Lamb's Ears [Stachys] mentioned can also be dried. The flower stalks - which many people keep trimmed down - are long-lasting and the leaves maintain their softness and pliability. They make beautiful "bows".
If you're still looking for more suggestions, let me know...I'd be happy to help out.
Have you seen LEOPARD'S BANE. This grows as a tidy low green leafed mass and has fabulous bright yellow daisy like flowers on about six inch naked stem. It's one of the first plants to flower in the garden after the snow thaws.
I've had really good results with perennial geraniums (cranesbill) as well as with campanula. These both are great bloomers and do well in my flower bed which in the southeast corner of our lot. Another perennial which is very pretty is ornamental oregano -- it blooms in late summer or early fall. The campanulas and cranesbill bloom in early summer in our area (Zone 3).
I'm not sure if you want to have more of a taller edging plant that blooms but this one is an annual plant that could border your garden and does flower and can be seeded each year. At the end of the season, harvest the seed heads and use them again next year. The plant is Lavatera. It flowers beautifully mid summer and creates about a 3' tall border. You can have pink, white, or mauve flowers. You should be able to find the seeds easily. Good Luck.
Sunny edging plants: I love to edge with lambs ears.
They don't have impressive flowers but they feel great when they brush up against your legs as you walk by. Kids love them too as they are very tactile - as they're name implies. They have blue/grey foliage.
I also like coral bells as edgers, the ones with green leaves. These will do well in the shade but mine are in full sun and are quite happy. They have a beautiful bright coral colour to the flower and have low growing green leaves.
Perennial dianthus (bright pink) and Purple Rock Cress (blue/purple) are magnificent edgers, both blooming one after the other. They are very low growing and spread out to soften the edges of walkways and patios.
I also like day lilies as edgers. They don't get too tall but the leaves will hang nicely over a walkway or patio.
Hope this helps.