Novice gardener wondering what to do with this flower bed!

[Sunshine49]

Hello everyone! Yesterday I finally had a go at tidying up a section of flower bed in my new garden. Unfortunately by the time I’d cleared away all the weeds and brambles, there wasn’t a lot left!

I’ve got a salvia microphylla and a lady’s mantle in there, plus what I think is a rose that looks pretty dead (and has an ants’ nest underneath it).

I’m now wondering what else to plant in there - I would love to buy some lavender and new roses, but will they work do you think? It’s a south-west facing bed so gets a good amount of sun, and I’m guessing the soil is clay since I live in south London.

Any suggestions would be most welcome!

It rather depends on how much time you have to garden. The rose could be brought back to life with gentle pruning and some rose fertiliser. They’re pretty tough. How about some winter Jasmine along the fence. Then you’d have some winter interest that easy to care for. Penstemon are good long lasting low growing summer flowers. Viburnum Bonariensis or Knautia would give you elegant height.
Old fashioned pinks are lovely in the front of the border, have a perfum and only require dead heading.
Others will be along with more suggestions. Enjoy your planting.