I'm not sure what your question is.
Are you asking what to plant there?

Is that trench next to your house normally filled in with soil or is it left open like that?

Has your home been treated for termites? You could use cedar mulch instead of rocks since it repels insects. Definitely get the termite treatment done before trying to plant anything if you haven't done that already.

Have you thought of having your sidewalk come out to the street in a curve rather than a right angle. Or have it meet out to the sidewalk in the front instead of going over to the driveway. It makes your home more welcoming if it goes out to the street rather than making people walk up your driveway to get to the sidewalk. Moving the sidewalk would give you more room to plant along that bare wall in the front. You could be more creative with more space versus the restricted amount of space you have right now. If you don't want to remove the sidewalk, then consider putting in a flagstone path through the front yard about 3 feet wide and then you could extend the garden area over to the other side of the walkway in a nice curve from the driveway wrapping around the front of the walkway and even over to the left side connecting with those existing beds. Curves will soften the angles of the front of your house and maybe using some easy to grow EarthKind roses and drought tolerant perennials backed by some green shrubs, it would make the front of your house more appealing and camouflage all that concrete.

I'm guessing that you are removing that stone edging rather than adding it? In the pictures where the flowers are planted I don't see any of the foundation showing, just brick. The level of the soil should be several inches (as much as you can) below where the brick and foundation meet. That helps with the termite and moisture in the garage problem. A slope would be the best way to go, and rock will not wash out during heavy rains the way an organic mulch would on a slope, although small rock might, so use use larger rock if you use rock. The denser you can plant that area too the less amount of washout you might have. If the brick edging has been there, I am also guessing that the reason it was done was because that area washed out alot with a slope. I don't see gutters over that bed, so that adds to the problem. I would try to get some gutters up over that area. The French drain should help alot. And plus, how often are we going to have the kind of rainy weather we've had this year? I hope this helps some.
Debi

Yes, this area is normally filled with soil and had hostas and vincas in it previously. It was level with the sidewalk. We are planning to lower the beds a little, but don't want a trench next to our sidewalk!
The stone is being taken away, not added. It was recommended that maybe we use a boulder in the corner of the bed toward where the bottom of the slope would be, and to maybe use grasses to border the beds. I was hoping for some advice about how to lay out the bed so that it would cause further drainage problems, as well as plants that might work in that space. Our house faces west.

Thank you for your input.

Kristy

It is kind of hard to describe something like that when it would be easier to see it on paper. It might be worth it to contact a landscape designer to draw up a design for you. It might cost you a couple hundred dollars or so, but you can take the design and implement it yourself a little at a time. But, I do think removing some of the lawn area and creating some curved beds out there would definitely soften all the hardscape around the house.

No way I'd advise someone about drainage without being in person even if I knew how! The french drain was probably a great idea. I like the Cedar mulch for bug repelling properties too. I can tell you what will grow in dry or wet situations in shade or sun tho. Elephant ears,Tx star hibiscus,mint(invasive!!!),ruellia(same!!),Cannas,Lousiana Iris,and horsetail rush(ditto on the invasive!) PJ

The only gutters I would suggest is the section over the front door. That appears to be the only source of water in this area. The garage roof appears to slope slope forward, not into this bed, except at the lower steps. To help cover up that expanse of blank wall, have you thought of a trellis? Maybe an antique climbing rose? Or maybe two? You could still use rock as a mulch and use decorative pots scattered through the bed. Use a mix of larger river rock and small peagravel to make it look more natural. The pots could be changed during the various times of year, and give room for fall decorations or Christmas ones. You could have a mix of annuals and perennials. The boulder sounds like a good way to hold the soil and yet not hold water. The water should be able to flow around it. Do you have a source of electricity there? Have you thought of a small water feature? Maybe one of the orbs or jugs that just flows over into a bed of rock. The reservoir is buried and the rock covers it up. Then, just use the same rock for mulch in the rest of the bed.

You might consider some alternatives to traditional plantings, if you're having drainage and insect problems. For instance, you could have a rock garden there, maybe with a little water fountain, a bird bath or some other major feature, and perhaps some very small plants that would work in between the rocks like moss, "steppable" sedums, summer snowflakes, small lirope and the like. That would save you having to add water to the bed. It would also be a nice area for containers.

Make sure not to use too much dirt....the dirt should not go up to the brick.....you can also put some rocks/pebbles against the house to separate the bed.