Nature hates naked soil so there really must be something wrong if you have added good soil, water and still nothing wants to grow. Have you tried hardy groundcovers? The true geraniums, not the type that dies each winter but the hardy geraniums can handle dry soil and mostly shade with bursts of sun. Creeping sedums such as sedum 'Angelina' and Hen's and Chicks can also adapt. You might also just give in and mulch the area with gravel, set some stone slabs or stepping stones on the rock and invest in some large containers to use in this place. Groundcovers, yew, Spiraeas and nandina are a few plants that will grow in containers of potting soil if you water when the soil is dry. One more idea...use this barren space to display garden art such as a collection of watering cans, glass globes or metal farm machinery. Keep growing, Marianne Binetti