Need advice on fake flowers

We moved into our house about a year ago and haven't really done much to the overall look. The main issue is that we're in a heavily wooded area so grass can't/doesn't really grow, not just because of shade but mainly because pine trees drop straw constantly, and A LOT of it.

In the front of the fencing there are 2 long planter boxes that to my knowledge haven't actually had anything in them for years. Currently they are just filled to the brim wtih pine straw. I'd like to add some color in these just for a nice little visual pop, but my wife and I know absolutely nothing about plants or landscape foliage. I'm sure I could do a little research but 1) we probably don't want to go to the trouble of the upkeep it would require, and 2) again, pine straw is going to fall in this area heavily and frequently.

So that brings me back to the question in the title. It sounds silly asking for advice on fake plants, a novice like myself would think "it's fake, what's there to think about?" but you don't know what you don't know. I have no idea if there are some fake plant materials that are better than others, or if I need to patronize some particular big box store over another. There's probably a dozen other things I don't know about this which is why I'd like to get opinions from the experts.

Some pictures are below for reference. After we get some nice color in there I'm considering painting the fence white to just "clean up" the look in general. Currently it's just so drab, although being in a woody type of place it kind of blends in so not totally married to the painting yet.