Sounds like a good place for Irises. I always just called that type of area a "pond in a field" but I guess you could get technical. Tall purple Irises would pop up every now and then. I guess someone planted them there.

There are very few people that know the difference between a Bog and a Fen. Most people say they have a Bog when in reality they have a Fen. If the water is flowing then it is a Fen and you have a great place to put in any type of garden. A Bog is non-flowing water thus resulting in the soil going anaerobic (Smells like a septic tank or sewer). When the water is flowing you then have a constant input of fresh ground water and oxygen and a good place for plants to grow, a good Fen.

To Pond or not to Pond; haven't seen a pic but it sounds like a good place to put a pond. The question becomes what are you going to use the pond for? Start with that then ask more questions. If you do put in a pond the fen should be 10% of the pond at a minimum. I can give you more info when you are ready to discuss the potential use of the pond.

I have a former swimming pool filled with many truckloads of dirt. I jackhammered several holes in the bottom, but it has taught me something about drainage. It is a bog. The word "quicksand" comes to mind describing the mushy, "soaked sponge" soil that only seems to dry out during a rare drought. After rain storms, it holds standing water in any sort of low-lying section, so I'm still building up the grade in places.

But it has been more than worth it because of the native plants and animals that love this micro-habitat.

I continually remove the alien Elephant Ears, Umbrella Grass, Yellow Irises, and Philodendron that are exotic garden staples. I tried native Horsetail Rush but settled instead on native Pickerel Rush. It initially gives modest green stalks with occasional large green leaves...but then explodes into gorgeous purple brushes for the warm 6 months that are irresistible draws for hummingbirds, bees, and dragonflies almost daily.

After any spring rain, the frogs or toads start croaking their crazy, sometimes deafening chorus, usually all night long. Some bold fellow will usually start his singing during the storm itself. This goes on for at least a day or two, every time it rains, for a few months. The romantic little guys nestle in the watery sections, safe from view, leaping or swimming away only when closely disturbed.

I have found that native Wax Myrtle shrubs grow like the magical beanstalk in this mush. I planted 1' tall seedlings and they turned into lush bushes that are taller and wider than me in just a few years.

In parts, I have clusters of native Sweet Gum trees, some growing at 2' per year. In other sections, I have native Tupelo seedlings sprouting up everywhere. Along one side, Loblolly Pine seedlings sprouted and one of them is as tall as me after a few years.

I have never seen such dense, fast-growing vegetation anywhere. It is exploding. I regularly have to thin it out and it quickly comes back just as strong with more stems than I know what to do with. Apparently nature loves to use every last drop of water when turf grass, weeds, and lawnmowers are removed from the equation.

I also have the most amazing accidental ground cover. It's a weed seen in local ditches and banks of retention ponds called Moneywort or Dollarweed. It's short and odd-looking, a bit like a flat, green mushroom or a gigantic, simple clover. I let it slowly take over the ground layer as I plucked out grasses. It now makes a beautiful, airy carpet. I have never seen anything like its effect before, handsomely covering what was exposed leaf litter. They don't sell this little weed in any store that I've ever seen.

Finally, I have to mention the mosquito-breeding. The bog is a giant mosquito colony. I might as well name it West Nile Bank. While this usually keeps me observing from a safe distance, wearing long pants and long shirt even in the scorching, humid summer, the wildlife thanks me. The birds thank me. The frogs or toads keep coming back each spring. I'm sure bats are feasting at night. I see more gecko-like lizards (Green Anoles) than ever before. I'm almost guaranteed to see at least one of them every time I walk out there.

I am sending this to my other half as she will love your coments

PS: How are the flood waters this morning where you are? Is the loop back open this morning yet? We were lucky these past few days in that we only go like about 6". Been in this house now for 16 years and during that time the stock tank has not gone dry only once, I think this will be the second year that it doesn't go dry.

We have swamp at the back of our property that has some degree of water year round, 2 areas that stay wet in spring/early summer only and a dug spring fed pond. We don't plant around it, everything is naturalized and I find dogwoods do very well and grow no problem, grasses as well (sorry never checked on the species) and we do have iris' that grow well in the areas that are only wet, spring/ summer. The swamp has trees and in the deepest part grasses. I want to do some wild rice back in the pond area, which could be an option for you if you choose to dig a pond.

Around the property · More Info

Our pond in spring

Around the property · More Info

Swamp in early summer, I believe.

Pictures of flooding in my neighborhood taken this afternoon: