Thank you for your response. I would like more help though. Let's say for a second that it's not dead, but nearly there. Is there any advice you can give me to bring this one back? Or is it already too late?

In the long term, thyme likes the soil to be on the dry side. Not bone dry, but moist soil can cause thyme to rot. Just be careful with the watering, and it might still come back. I would have suggested introducing it to more sun gradually, rather than immediately putting it in full sun. While it's recovering, it might cope better with a bit of shade in the middle of the day...?

If you want color all year you will need to plant shrubs as there are very few plants that bloom continuously so look for leaf coloration. To have bloom all season you will need to have a variety of plants not just a couple of varieties. Since you have lawn areas to be filled start looking for plants that will live for several years. Space them so that they can fill in the area. Then do under planting with annuals or other short lived plants. These will fill in the blank spaces why the other plants grow. Although you want info from a forum posters only post about plants that will grow in their area. They may not grow in yours not because of the silly zone thing but because they may have sand, clay, or bog conditions. What works for me does not work for a real plant person friend of mine that lives less than 5 miles away. Things to think about do you want just color or do you want scented flowers. Be aware that all flowers with the same name may not even smell. Do you have a preference in colors. Best of all what do you not like.

They are some type of agaves, someone else might be able to give you a specific name. Too young for me to tell. In any case just put them in a small pot with C&S soil and good drainage, keep them slightly humid but not wet under good light. you can water more once established, waiting for soil to dry between watering. Importantly keep them away from direct sun until they get much bigger. Then adapt them to filtered sun and direct sun progressively. Once you know what they are you can then find out whether they are also frost sensitive or not. Good luck!