Please tell us where you live (nearest big city & state) since that affects plant choices. Thanks!

Do you like the rocks or do weeds grow among them and it's a pain to keep the weeds pulled? Rocks are great in some parts of the US and a poor choice in other areas depending on annual rainfall.

I’m in Charlotte, NC! Definitely hot dry in that area during the summer. The soil is all clay around that area.

And I’m indifferent about the rocks, I could take them or leave them. I don’t notice a huge weed problem in between them

(I already bought 2 Coopers Hardy Ice plants and then realized I have no idea what I’m doing) 😂

No, ice plants are a great choice for you! Everybody has their own aesthetic sense. I'd choose several types of low (knee high or shorter) flowering plants in shades of blue, purple and pink like nepeta, dianthus, achillea, allium, coreopsis, and sedum. And ice plant! Using several different, long blooming plants would give color throughout the season.

You'll receive lots of suggestions in different planting styles. There's no wrong answer here. Good luck!

Thank you so much!! I’ll definitely look into those. One question I have is in placement of ground cover..would it go all throughout the area or would you just suggest it along the front of the bed toward the road and the taller plants throughout the ground cover?

taller guys in the middle and shorter guys around all the edges - that means a few tall guys that are long blooming with pretty foliage and mostly short guys

also add spring bulbs (daffodils, crocus, grape hyacinths) this fall

other forum members may suggest you only use one groundcover plant because my happy flowery crazy quilt preference is too busy - that's a personal preference

Awesome!!! Thanks!!!

Be frugal with heavily flowering plants near the mailbox. Our post office required a neighbor to remove a clematis climbing on the mailbox pole: it was attracting lots of bees.

Great thought, good to know!

Some option to go

This is so cool to see and be able to visualize! Thank you!!!

You are welcome! :-))

Postal workers don't like flowers/blooming plants near the mailbox, as bees can enter the vehicle thru the open window, and create a safety hazard. Maybe some low growing greenery there, and save the flowers for another bed.

Many of the mailboxes in my neighborhood have gardens around them. Please post the postal regulation forbidding them. Thanks.

What postal workers don't like and what postal regulations forbid are two entirely different things.

Also, it may be localized. Some local postmasters may have a bee in their bonnet (pun intended) but mailbox gardens are very common. The OP inherited an established mailbox garden with flowering plants in it when she bought the house so mailbox gardens are accepted in her area.

She's considering low growing plants which won't block her sight line when backing out of the driveway -- the blooms won't be anywhere near the height of the mailbox.

Yes there are mailbox gardens in my neighborhood. I have a large area to work with so I will just be very mindful of the placement and the type/amount of flowering plants. I also don’t expect to get it right the first time since I’m a novice so I’ll make adjustments along the way!

Here are a few ideas :

There isn't a postal regulation specific to bees or the flowers which attracts bees, but there are regulations specified as "HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS" and will cover anything the carrier feels will or may constitute a hazard or danger to them. The regulation details how the carrier informs the box owner why the mail is stopped and what follows.
Some carriers are allergic to bee stings or others just don't like getting stung, but if doesn't matter and they have the right to curtail your delivery. So if your pretty flowers attract bees and the carrier doesn't like it you'll need to cut down the flowers or pick up your mail at the post office until the flowers are done blooming.

I LOVE that design @dig Doug’s designs!! Thank you so much.