That eavestrough drain pipe is part of your water problem. I would dig down along the sidewalk and fill it with coarse gravel and aim the downspout toward the street.

If that black line is your proposed flower bed. It looks good but the curve back to toward the house is a little to abrupt give it a gentler curve and once the box is removed narrow that part toward the gravel. Once you have removed the box lay down the garden hose to get your correct line for the deging. Then you can see if the line is pleasing to the eye.

Once it is done fill it with good top soil compost and manure.

Plants you can put in--
Shrubs--dogwood- the variagated one is lovely, rhododendron, false spirea and I'll bet there's enough sun at the corner of the house for azalea or hydrengia.

climbing plants--climbing hydrengia, american bittersweet and there is a shade clematis,

perennials--astilbe, goats beard, foxglove. ligularia, lamium, golden creeping jenny, violets, primula, hostas and ferns.

annuals--impatiens, begonias,coleus and fuscha

I'm sure I missed some, so look around. For the part that gets more sun any part shade plant will do

Thanks, I appreciate the input.

I hadn't paid much attention to the the closest downspout as there are two others. But it is actually making it's mark on the yard. I wonder why my dad didn't have it facing downalong side the driveway.

How much space should I plan on having between the house and any shrubs or trees?

I love Clematis and will check out the shaded variety.

On the plant tags it will say the mature height and width of the plant Leave about a foot between the house and shrub. In other words if the tag says width 3 feet plant the shrub2 1/2 feet away from the house--1 1/2 feet--half the width +1. Check out the height too --is it going to interfere with the eaves.

Planting away from the house allows air flow to keep the siding and foundation dry, important especially on the north side. Flowers can go a little closer.

Planting away from the house also allows you access to maintain the shrubs -- and the house too.