what about Encore azaleas? They come in many, many colors and bloom from spring to fall and they also come in a dwarf size, besides their regular sizes. You can get on their website and see which ones are recommended for your area by zip code. Here is a link that might be useful: encore azaleas by size

Any broadleaf evergreen will produce flowers. Even though they might be tiny and you not notice them, the bees will :-) Conifers do not produce flowers as most of us recognize them so no nectar production that would attract bees and they are pollinated by wind, seldom insects. If you don't want any bees, go with a conifer. FWIW, the flowering period of most broadleaf evergreen shrubs is relatively short, so the bees don't hang around long - when the flowers are over, they move on. And when they are present they are busy - they won't bother you unless you bother them. Boxwood is a very common, almost ubiquitous, hedging plant and is used in similar situations with great frequency. And it is appealing to bees when in bloom but that does not discourage its use for this purpose by 1000's of homeowners. You may be being a bit overcautious :-)

Make sure to select a variety of cistus that does stay small and compact :-)) Some get to be pretty hefty shrubs - 5-6' tall and as wide. I am personally very fond of the intergeneric hybrid xHalimiocistus wintonensis 'Merrist Wood Cream'. As drought tolerant as both its parents (Cistus and Halimium), it stays small, has a longer bloom season than a regular rockrose, and has a great pale yellow flower with a burgundy center.

Carol - you are absolutely right. I was just leaving the house and seem to have had a brain freeze when I wrote that. I've never been on any course but I have box outside the back door and look at it often enough. Looking at the picture more carefully, although it's hard to see, the leaf arrangement does look opposite, rather than alternate. I am still 100% sure it is box.