My front garden is a challenge.
My house is build on a downwards slope that forms part of an old quarry. The back garden is fine. However, in the front garden (faces due south), your hit rock at two spades' depth. To make matters worse, it's a small space and enclosed on three sides by privet.
Since moving here, I have now dug and double dug it over three times. I have added bag after bag of compost and manure. Despite this, things really struggle to grow in it. To give you an idea, even municipal planting species nearly die in it - a mahonia 'charity' had to be removed, as did a dogwood. Somehow, a spirea japonica struggles on, but the poor thing looks like it's exhausted by summer.
I've just covered half of it with a (very) raised herb bed, which works a lot better. I'm planning to get rid of the privet on the side of my more open-minded neighbours and replace with hornbeam in the autumn.
But what can I plant in the other half that won't look ridiculous against a raised bed? I think a rock garden transitioning suddenly to herbs might look silly?
Suggestions very welcome.