I've not found that Creeping Charlie, covered with lots of composting material, would grow into the pile, rather it dies due to lack of access to the sunlight needed for growth.

Oh, that's wonderful news! Thanks!

Disclaimer: I have no experience with Creeping Charlie........However.........it seems that almost anything would have a hard time surviving under a hot and active pile just due to heat alone. My pile this morning was in the 140* range, the point being that is kills weed seeds and pathogens, so it seems hard to imagine that a plant could live in that heat, with no light, and still survive.

So no worries! :)

Well, I think I'm just going to put down a thick layer of cardboard and start building the pile on top of that. Although I do enjoy lurking here, I've never composted before and I don't know how long it's going to take before I will be successful enough to graduate to compost whackodom :-D

Usually all it takes is to see your first steam coming off the pile or when you catch the fresh smell of the compost. Then you will be drawn to the compost and know you have graduated,

What about the opposite? Would something grow from my compost pile into the ground? If I accidentally threw seeds in there? Or is that the same thing?

Hot enough heat will kill weed seeds. Volunteers happen all the time in a compost pile, but turning them and reincorporating the sprouts takes care of it. Cold composting is a different story, stuff could take off and run rampant if allowed.

For most all plants to grow they need access to sunlight. Pile enough "stuff" on top of any plant, so it does not get any sunlight, and that plant will die. The heat of your compost pile does not really have anything to do with plants dying, although that heat will kill plant seeds.