Rose garden? How about herbs and medicinal plants? And what about the bees?

So we  have this slice of yard in the back of our house that is a blank canvas. Okay, maybe it’s a weed infested, thorny path of hell. But either way, I would like to you know do something with it when the weather cools down in about a month or two.

Here is the area of yard:

In our old house we had a lovely rose garden with 12 bushes. The great thing about roses is they can take the heat and don’t require a lot of water.

But, I’d like to so something a little different. So I was thinking about planting annual flowers when spring hits in February to help the bees (I feel guilt because I fish so many of them out of the pool where they’ve drowned—personally I’m certain wasps come and stomp on them, shoving them under water so they can take over the territory. I do not like wasps).

I’d love to have some herbs like sage and thyme as well and other plants that serve a purpose other than just look nice.

Any suggestions?

Remember I live in Phoenix (need low water plants) and this wall faces west but our neighbor has a nice tree that gives some shade but this will be pretty much full sun during the heat of the day.

Thoughts?