I will wait for pics Make sure you wait until the pics are no longer grayed before submitting .

You need to give us a zone, nearest city and sun and shade.

In a bed like that, you probably want a collection of perennials that bloom at different times and aren't too tall.

A great way to get cheap plants is to divide the ones you have. In pic#2, you have a plant that looks ripe for dividing.

6

Because the location of the bench makes it impractical to actually use, i suggest you stick to plantings only in that space and remove the bench.

Some option

or

Here are some suggestions:

No one wants to sit on a bench in front of a wall that radiates heat. Not sure why you placed it there.

Thank

I don't know how much work you want to do here, but the facade, lacking windows, is very forbidding, and the door appears very narrow and "squinched," even more so by the exceedingly narrow approach and steps. Hard to say for sure without seeing the entire front of the house, but I'd really consider at a minimum, widening the path to the steps, widening the steps to a porch at least 6 ft wide (perhaps wider) and perhaps 4 feet deep. Again, without seeing entire house, don't know whether a shed roof for the porch or a peaked root would be more appropriate.

Go to a good locally owned nursery with the pictures you posted here. They should be very helpful with suggestions if you go at a slower (business-wise) time of the day such as early morning. Some things will be better planted fall, such as irises, so some flowering annuals will get you through this summer. It looks as if you are in a beautiful area.

Thank you all for your kind and helpful comments. Im so sorry this darn app comment section does not work on my phone. My laptop suddenly allowed me to comment. Yay. I soooooo appreciate your time with mock up photos. very helpful. We do actually sit on the bench on occasion but im so used to it that it doesnt hit my how stupid it looks until i see photos lol. I consider scrapping and moving the bench but would i put something large like a big gorgeous limelight hydrange to go huge on the wall beside steps or keep the bench. I have 3 planters in between my garage already so I hesitate to use too many planters and it look silly. What perennials could I plant here? I bough Lobelia /Riviera Marine Blue Lobelia and was thinking of edging the walkway with it but it says it grows 4-6" so not sure if it woiuld look silly. We are going to get mulch this weekend so I am in a bit of a rush to fix this space albeit if even temporarily. It looks SOOOOO BAD i know. Anyone think I shouild divide the area between gravel and landscaping bed in some way?

celery: the mockup that you did...what are the cute edging green plants you screenshotted there. I like it. My neighbor dog pees frequently on my boxwoods that are planted there now so hoping its not boxwood.

I would definitely remove the bench. Then choose a pair of flowering shrubs to flank the door. .Be sure they are far enough away that they will never infringe on the steps. Then do the rest with perennials.

I can't mock up as well as others, but what about looking into the cost of a pergola?

That could fill a bit of that vast wall.

I would also do larger lights. I think all the rocks you have look great - you just need some great colorful plants. A nursery can certainly steer you in the right direction.

Good luck!