Assuming this is the front of the house? What direction does it face? What zone are you in? Post a picture here in the comments of the entire house.

Before you plant along the walk, and presuming the space will be planted with something other than turf, you'll need to remove soil from next to the walk inside, to a couple inches deep (throw it back into the bed), and feather it to blend with the bed grade. This is so the mulch does not rise above the walk. If it did, it would wash onto the walk with every rain.

Need to supply different pictures so the landscape space can be understood and as a way to get feedback. Stand in line with the center of the house, about 25' to 30' out, and take a series of slightly overlapping pictures from that single viewpoint (don't move the camera except to pivot.) Pan 180*, from left to right lot line, with the neighboring houses showing in the background of the first and last pic.

@yardvaark

You don't seem to understand the picture-taking directions. The camera must be lined up with the front door in ALL shots. It cannot move around from place to place between pictures. You are almost at the right spot in only the last picture. Also, the scene extends neither right nor left far enough. We don't need to see just to the corners of the house, but an entire other, slightly-overlapping picture BEYOND the corners. Even if there are no neighboring houses, you would turn the camera toward where they would be, if they were there, in order to create A 180* view.

@Deco, Looking at the totality over the years, most people do them. However, there is a tendency to cut the scenes short, giving the absolute minimum necessary ... which mystifies me as it cost $0.00 more to give the complete scene! It's impossible to make good decisions based on inadequate information. As a way to cut down the workload, I decided not to bother with the requests that don't have adequate pictures, as it says the OP doesn't care anyway.

Here's an example of the information necessary. (This offering was comprised of 4 separate pictures. though that varies depending on the subject.)

Interesting. I often used to ask for pix of interiors that started at the main entry and moved clockwise taking shots from each center wall and corner to the other side of the room. Rarely got them. Makes more sense to see all of the issues.

I think people are just eager to provide lots of info thru pictures, but don’t realize most of their pictures are useless. Perhaps if you instructed them to SIT IN A CHAIR aligned with the front door and take 3 pictures, that you would get what you need. They don’t seem to understand the DONT WALK ANYWHERE instruction.

Yes, I agree, Littlebug! I spell out (over and over and over again!) how to take the pictures, but it is apparent that most people blow off some of the instructions. I think they think it doesn't matter which, of course, puts limits on the quality of feedback they can get in return. If they can get about 75-80% correct, it is usually good enough to pass. In my case, I'm not just looking for information so as to better understand the site, I'm also looking for information that I can use to convey advice back to them. Bad or insufficient pictures make the job harder. plain unpleasant or impossible. If too hard or unpleasant, I can't get interested in it.

ideas:

Yardvaark and Dig Doug's, I have said this before but it is worth repeating: you guys are awesome! You both provide such helpful advice and the picture renderings are great. Just have to say thanks. You have both answered a few of my questions and it is so helpful. Not trying to highjack this thread but had to chime in.

I think there is a "stitch" feature on some cameras. But the chair idea is a good one.

First, you need to deal with those downspouts dumping water out on your foundation. You need them to attach to 4" black piping, running the pipes under the sidewalk and out to catch basins or pop-ups in the yard.

Then you need to check code requirements for your front porch. It looks way to high not to have a railing of some kind. Same with the stairs. Both look like a law suit waiting to happen.

@Aurora Tee Thanks for the "thanks."

Regarding the "stitch" or panoramic features on cameras and phones ... These features take the pictorial information of 4 or 5 pictures and shrink into a single picture, removing large amounts of detail in the process. Usually, the end result is unable to be enlarged without becoming blurry. For the purposes of the forum, it's always best if the OP submits individual pictures. Anyone can make them into one if they like, but usually, the site can be understood even if they are separate pictures -- so long as the camera viewpoint stayed the same for all pictures.

@Catlady - I will disagree with you on your drainage suggestions. As long as the surface grade is correct for the water to drain away, keeping drainage at the surface is the less troublesome option. Pop-up, especially, or any condition where piped water must rise back to the surface, are prone to silting up and clogging.

Ashley, you have a lot of room for plants. It sounds like you are inexperienced. Who will maintain your garden once it is in place?

You can have a layered foundation bed if you like but it is not necessary. Simple gardens are nice too.

You did not tell us your growing zone or water needs or soil type. That makes it impossible to recommend specific plants.

It would help if you had a picture of the type of garden you like.

Have you checked whether there was landscape fabric under the pea gravel?

@flotal_uk yes there was. We pulled it all up as well because it was failing at the job.

@emmarene9 .... yes I am very inexperienced when it comes to the whole idea of starting a garden bed, but I am more than capable to maintain one.

We are in 7b growing zone with clay type soil.

@Yardvaark sorry for the incorrect photos.

Here’s another.... I hope they are correct

For future knowledge, it is better to create the panorama out of several slightly overlapping photos that are all taken from the same camera point of view, rather than a single software generated panorama. The difference is that the latter is small and details are hard to see, and it cannot be enlarged without blurring. The former would be approximately 3-5 times the amount of visual information. Nevertheless, we're going with. :-)

Here's how I'd organize it:

no one knows where you are or how likely you are to maintain anything, or what your soil and lighting is like... best to get a local landscaper on board.

What are the two shrubs that remain? I ask because they seem to be thriving and some plants do not like clay soil. What are the two little trees off the left corner?

As Yardvaark mentioned you need to lower the soil level near the walk because five inches of mulch is what is used to prevent weeds. Do not use fabric or plastic beneath the mulch.

Over time microbes in the soil will break down the mulch. It is good for the soil. As it beaks down you will need to add more mulch. That is why it is best to add enough plants to cover most of the planted area.

Are there any plant nurseries nearby? It is easiest to get ground cover plants in plugs.

@emmarebe9 thanks for the advice on not layering with a fabric because we were considered weather or not we should do that. Would it be best to put some kind of landscaping stones between the bed and the sidewalk to prevent the mulch from washing away?

@yardvaark that’s beautiful!!! And sorry for the panoramic photos. Thought it would haven been better. Lesson learned.

Do you have a list of plants these would be in the photo?

The plants in Yard's mock up are just representational - they could be anything. Since we have no idea where you are located - zone 7 covers a lot of very diverse territory - it is difficult to make specific suggestions.

Clay soil will not necessarily limit what you can plant. As long as drainage is decent, pretty much any plant can grow in clay. And you only need 3" of mulch for decent weed suppression........5 inches is excessive.

Okay great! I am going to go by a nursery this week and get some insight of what plants would do great in our area....

I want to say thanks too everyone who has taken the time to respond to me and give me some much needed insight on our garden bed. It’s a learning experience!!!

Another thing you could do is take a look around where you live and see what other people are successfully using to make similar sizes and shapes (or any other features) of plants. Take a picture of any contenders to get them identified at the nursery. Sometimes it is hard to look at small plants in nursery pots and get an accurate idea of what they can or will become. If there is a botanical garden nearby, that's another great source of learning about what plants become.