Im sure somrone will answer you but while you’re waiting contact your county Extension Service. This is their business, helping farmers, growners and homeowners with agricultural and gardening questions. Theyll tell you what to do, which may mean sending them a sample.

My county extension is useless...I did go there and they suggested "critters" were chewing on them over the winter...despite me clearly explaining it is mushy, gooey, rot.

I know there is a mulitude of fungi that can cause root rot or stem rot...and wet soils is what allows them to be active. This is a "winter wet" and "summer dry" location. West side of house so plenty of sun and heat in the summer...but very flat lawn with clayish soils so landscape beds...although built 12" or more higher than the lawn"...stay winter wet.

I've left the bed empty all summer...and beginning to plan on what to plant in fall. I'm looking for a mixed shrub border that could handle wet soil in winter and spring. Anyone have any thoughts?

The classics would be the shrubby dogwoods, and willows. Winterberry is another possibility. I'm thinking of shrubs that grow wild in our swamps, but can handle normal garden moisture.

Yeah I thought of the dwarf red twig dogwoods. How well does the foliage hold up during July-August heat? Winterberry would be nice...although I do have neutral soil...around 7.0, I've always thought of winterberry as an acidic soil plant.

Ninebarks I believe are an option for this type of location. Not a big fan of some of the older cultivars...but the newer amber jubilee looks nice.

My pH is 7.2 and winterberry grows wild locally. There are plants that are problematic here because of the soil pH, but winterberry isn't one of them.