Boy, that is indeed grim looking. And those sad little plantings in that sea of hot rock are even worse. I suggest you take a good look at some of the offerings of nurseries oriented towards the west--perhaps High Country Gardens (if they are still operating--I never got a catalog from them this year.) Lauren Springer is also a name you may want to research; she's gardened in the west for many years. This landscaping requires serious knowledge of plants for what appears to be a hot, dry climate. Surely there are knowledgeable landscape designers in your area.

If you will cross post on one of the sites for where you are located in the country, you should get more help. There are specific sites for Nevada, Arizona, Rocky Mountain, ect. While your zone is cold, it also must be dry and that will affect what does well there. I would also go to some local nurseries to see what they recommend (not big box stores).