Middle of the Week -- Part 2

Okay, here is the missing view for those of you who know my front door well and were asking for a photo of that section because you want to be helpful...I have never known what to do with this area...uninspired chaos might describe it best actually.  Now that you have the missing view...any suggestions?   And, yes, I agree those yellow flowering things don't do much (in yesterday's photo)...Mark usually puts petunias there and I don't really care for petunias all that much, so I tried to make a case for "something yellow and cheerful that will spread a bit" and I am thinking that while they are cute, these were not the answer...but since then, I have in mind that my little hydrangeas might look good transplanted there so that I might get some larger ones for the nook area next year since I wanted something with more height in that space.  Basil is liking his new area just fine and producing nicely.  And, yes, email me photos of things you have in your yards as I would love to see them!  (Those of you in Iowa:  keep in mind I have reddish clay soil here and not that lovely black soil that I grew up with in northeast Iowa...growing things in this "soil" is a bit of a challenge...i.e. tulips are not perennials here as the clay soil causes the bulbs to rot over the winter.)  Thanks for all the suggestions...I know I could hire someone to draw up a plan, but there is something in the enjoyment of trying to get it right by yourselves and the satisfaction in that...and it is fun to explore a bit.  Thanks for playing with me!