Question
we live in cleveland ohio. I need a colorful flowering border for my front landscaping .  It gets mostly full sun, the annuals need to be deer resistant and slug resistant.  

Answer
Molly:
Short to high, the best choices would be:
Alyssum (best in coolish temps so may not be the best for you)
Geraniums (annual pelargoniums)
Ageratum (my favorite is "Blue Horizen" that gets 24" high, but there are dwarf varieties)
Annual Blue Salvia
Cleome  (a large stand of this is STUNNING)

In part shade the best one is the wax begonia.  Marigolds are deer resistant but slugs like them.

all the best,
c.L.