Here's a picture of the area:

& For some perspective here's a pic of the house:

I am considering blue baron rhododendrons, arctic rose azaleas, and some dwarf English boxwood.

I realize my area may not be wide enough, but my thought was I would just prune it to make it fit as it grows bigger.

I'm a newb. I really have no idea what I'm doing. This area doesn't get sun till around 1pm. I have a wooded lot across the street. I get full sun from like 1pm till 4pm. Approximately.

I have had suggestions to do perennials and whatnot here, but that is going to take a heck of a lot of them and they're expensive. I'm not opposed to perennials mixed in with something bigger.

I'm in Central Massachusetts. The USDA zone finder says I'm in 5B? Seems like it was something different last time I looked. I just did the zone calculator today and that's what it says.

Three hours sun is not very much and what ever you do go for plants that tolerate shade well.

What will you put on the ground for mulch?

The area appears to slope heavily in two directions.
After a heavy raing it looks as if you will get some washout.

Other part-shade AND easy plants are
Astilbe (flowers mostly July; pest-free, low maintenance)
perennial geraniums (Lancaster, for example; sooo easy, also pest-free, fast growing mounds, flowers once mid-late June then when cut back one third will usually bloom again end of summer)
Hakonechloa (perennial Hakone grass, bright yellow trim on long leaves, spectacular punch to any shady garden; slow-growing clumps, airy allure, prefers rich moist soil)

So do your research and don't forget to mulch! :D

p.s. Just curious: ever thought of leveling off this bed with an added retaining wall of sorts? Just a thought...