Hi Barbara:

Sorry, but I can only think of two options: 1. You can plant a bog garden or 2. Lighten the soil with a lot of sand and plant Florida natives. You might want to check to be sure the area does actually drain. Hopefully, it is away from your foundation.

This is an interesting problem and I look forward to hearing how you solve it. Good luck.

Julie in WPB

Cut off the irrigation and plant succulents, cactus, aloe, and small agaves. Fill the space with river rocks - 3 sizes - and three large boulders (one- or two-man size).

If the area gets good sun, I would add more rich soil and plant Louisiana iris garden
Olya

What about a small waterfall and pond? Maybe some Koi and waterplants?

Or what about putting a small wall around the edge of the patio using bricks (2 bricks tall would work). This would keep the water from the patio from draining into the soil and would allow you to add sand and potting soil to the area so you could plant what you want.

Welcome to the forum, I hope you find it as much a resource and inspiration as I do.

My suggestion would be to get a bit of that soil up and out, and replace w/ a 1.5 to 2 inches deep of river rock. Then I would add some water loving plants as this may be the one place in your landscape you won't feel any guilt for having'em as a lot of the water will be rain run off.

My landscape's biggest water hog is my new Black Elephant Ears, and if that spot is shady in addition to moist, it might be perfect spot for them. They're gorgeous, but in my limited experience need shade & like it moist.

Best of luck, & keep us posted,

Nat

Nat - those black Elephant Ears want full sun for best color along with the moist soil.

Thanks for the heads up fawnridge. I appreciate it!

I don't know why but they literally crisped on me in full sun...every leaf looked deep fried crispy except for a small part of one by the second day, even with all the watering I was doing. I dug them out and hightailed them over to the shade where thankfully new leaves have been sprouting and opening, and it seems like they're happy, so for now I will let them continue their recouperating and then try again in a different sunny spot.

Wish me luck :), I really like the look of this plant and would love to get it established in several spots close to the sprinkler heads, a/c drain, where ever gets a little moister naturally.

Nat - They last a couple of years and then it's best to yank them out, trim them back, and replant. I've got 8 or 9 varieties of Colcasia and Alocasia in the ground. They all seem to grow best in early morning or late afternoon sun.