Please help with landscape around brick mailbox

[screed]

I've been struggling to come up with how to landscape this area around my mailbox. The biggest problem is that my sprinklers do not reach this area, so whatever I plant needs to be somewhat drought tolerant. The other problem I've had is figuring out what would look best with the mailbox as tall as it is. I drew a mock up of some ideas & got a little help at a local nursery yesterday, but wanted to see if anyone here might have any other suggestions. I did buy the Abelia & Penstemon yesterday, so I for sure need to use them somehow in my design. I've included a picture of my mock up & a picture of the actual area from a street view. Thanks so much for you help!

 

[oneeye]

I would just use some large stones for decoration and not plant anything there since you have no water there. Say a couple of stones that are a couple of ft tall and wide that are real pretty.

 

[Tetters]

I would plant a suitable tree like eucalyptus - after preparing the ground REALLY WELL. That would provide shade. Here`s a list of alternatives I found on t`web

• Eastern Redcedar. Juniperus virginiana. ...
• Bur Oak. Quercus macrocarpa. ...
• Northern Red Oak. Quercus rubra. ...
• Kentucky Coffeetree. Gymnocladus dioicus. ...
• Hackberry. Celtis occidentalis. ...
• Chinkapin Oak. Quercus muehlenbergii. ...
• Northern Catalpa. Catalpa speciosa. ...
• London Planetree. Platanus x acerifolia.

 

[Twigs]

If you don’t want a lot of work for flowers all summer, maybe fill the entire area with Lantana. Flowers all summer, only need to cut back the dead once a year. Butterflies and hummingbirds like them and they won’t block your view of the road. They come in different colors too.