This is the only perennial I can say that works for me at 8k feet altitude in Evergreen, CO. The poor soil, drought, high winds, rabbits, deer, elk and unpredictable weather are quite a challenge for most gardeners here. Lambs' ear, snow-in-summer, artemisia, alliums and echinacea are also good bets for beginner gardeners to the state. Indoor plants that do well here are jade tree and sedums from my experience (with sunny well-lit location, well-drained cactus soil, so don't overwater as they don't like wet feet). I put lightweight rocks for extra drainage in the bottom of the large pot for my jade tree when I had it. That seemed successful. Let them go as dry as possible between waterings, and only water twice a month or so. The drier air is the challenge for indoor plants so stick to those plants that aren't picky about that. The indoors ZZ plant (dark green, waxy leaves) is also a winner for those who don't have a green thumb. It's quite sturdy, but tends to be a slow grower, so get the biggest ones you can find for your indoor garden.
Hardening off perennials, planting at the right time, using lots of mulch and adding mushroom compost to amend the soil will aid in beginning the garden. Even a plant as sturdy as the Six Hills Giant Catmint needs to be initially babied and watered deeply, regularly, to establish its place in your garden. Give it lots of expansion room when planning where it'll go too. It tends to get very wide and tall. It does well when planted as a group with other Six Hills Giant Nepetas. Imagine a field of lavendar when incorporating it into your garden's design. After a couple years, you can just add another thick layer of mulch and leave it alone (reduce watering to once a month, late afternoon, in only the driest months of the summer). Shear it back once a year (right after its blooms fade) and it will come back for a second bloom. The foliage is valuable for color, a medium green, when it's not in bloom. After its second or third year, divide the plant when it's dormant (died back completely) in early spring. Shovel it up, and break its roots in half. That way it doesn't get woody in its center and you can give it away to a neighbor or plant the divided sections at other places in your yard that have poor soil.
At lower (metro Denver's typical one mile above sea level) altitude, consider Russian Sage, Nearly Wild pink rose shrubs and also ornamental grasses for your garden. Those do very well in those regions. High Country Gardens has a website that sells a wide range of ornamental grasses, plants, deer-resistant wildflower and also drought-resistant grass seeds. Bluestone Perennial has the Six Hills Giant Catmint plants also. Some Liatris, Penstemons and Achillea on those sites would also do quite well in the metro Denver, CO gardens. Colo State University has a lot of information on the most successful plants and shrubs for the area too. Try to find a local Plant Select nursery in the area as they have training and supplies to help with our unique gardening challenges here.
High Country Gardens link (check out their drought-tolerant, low water, and no-mowing grass seed selection)
http://www.highcountrygardens.com/Grass_Seeds
Spinach, carrots, swiss chard, zucchini, onion, and garlic will do well here, as long as you can ward off the deer, elk, rabbits, and chipmunks.
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