Hello Mel,
How about plants that grow in prairies??
Here is a link to a page that lists plants for a loamy soil that is moist most of the year and is in full sun. You should browse around and maybe even email them.
I believe that there may be a couple of other sites similar to this one but I cannot think of them.
Prairie Nursery
Note each name listed is a link to more info per plant

Sounds like a job for Joe-Pye Weed.

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Hi Kwoods!
I am really glad to see that someone has butterflies!!!
I try to maintain a habitat that is conducive and inviting to butterflies but this year has been a flop. Don't know if it is just a cycle or if human activity is putting a bite into the insect population.
Even birds that I would expect to see hanging about such as Audoban Warblers are nowhere to be seen.
Our area has experienced a major housing boom that is finally starting to cool off but I fear that the natural areas frequented by the insects and birds that have been wiped out have forced at least the birds to change their normal feeding routes?????
At least I have seen two of the smaller species butterflies and absolutely no bees. I have a Catalina Ironwood out front which is about 80feet tall and is starting to set inflorescences and hopefully the bees will appear???

Not at all like in the years past!

Prairie gardens are great for insects!!!

Thanks everybody --

Thanks Terrestrial Man -- I did visit some of the prairie nurseries including Ohio Prairie Nursery and got some ideas. Found, actually, more things that would work there than I have room for! :-)

I'd been thinking about Joe Pye Weed, kwoods, and was happy to learn it could handle the wet feet. I have wanted some for a couple of years now but hadn't figured out where exactly it would go. A great place for the really tall JP Weed. Same with ironweed -- might be a great blend there!

It's a small area so sticking with one or two types of plants might be the best way to go. I'll have to put a sign up -- "wildlife area, do not weed-whack" . . . or either the neighbor or the guy who mows my lawn (rather spend all my time gardening, thank you *g*) will eventually whack it down!

I'm in zone 6 but I've seen some bees. Especially bumbles; they've built a home, it seems, in the brick of my barn. Pretty cool to watch them fly in there, legs full of pollen. I could have sworn I saw a yellow jacket last week, but I know it's too early for them, so it must have been something else, perhaps a similar-looking wasp. They were investigating the peonies (not yet open, but thinking about it). Haven't seen too many butterflies yet though, other than some cabbage whites and a couple of sulphurs. Most of my garden is for the butterflies (although I try to fit in as many veggies as possible) . . . hope to see them soon!

:-) Mel

Try Louisiana Iris. I'm pretty sure it's hardy there.
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This tough plant loves wet feet and has no problem with dry summers. One of the toughest plants I know-try some penstenmon tenuis with it and have lovely spring bouqets.

Here is a link that might be useful: Ginger's Flower Garden

Google "rain gardens" they are for areas exactly like the one you describe. Not only can they be beautiful, but also greatly beneficial!
NN

Ginger, those irises are gorgeous! I'll have to check them out -- if not for that area, for somewhere else in the garden! Do you have the Latin name for those?

Nativenut, the idea of a rain garden intrigues me -- after a brief perusal of Google I see that they are very beneficial to the environment. I shall have to do more research. The last link I looked at suggested 100 sq. ft., whereas my area is probably more like 30 to 40 sq. ft. (and that's probably being generous; I'll have to get off my butt and take a picture), but I'd like to consider this. I hope JP Weed is included in the list of recommended plants for rain gardens, 'coz it's definitely going in! :)

:-) Mel

I'd also say the Joe Pye Weed would work well, and it does go great with Iron weed. As for the Irises, you might pick ones native to your area. Here in Virginia we have Iris virginica which graces our mountain bogs with a spectacular display this time of year.

I also always recommend the blue and red lobelias and swamp milkweed. You might also try Queen of the Prairie if it grows in your area. I have to confess that I don't know much about the plants native to Ohio, but it an easy thing to look up.

One resource I really like is the USDA Plants database. With an advanced search, you can find all the plants native to your county and what kind of conditions they grow in. It often even has photos and propagation links.

Here is a link that might be useful: USDA Plants Database

Mel-
I don't know where you are in SW Ohio, but I have a link to my new favorite place that has a good selection of native plants. Prices are pretty good for some of their stuff.
I love Joe Pye weed. Really attracts the bees and butterflies. I have it coming up all over the place. It produces lots of seeds.
I'd love to grow Queen of the Prairie. It's a native.
Bob

Here is a link that might be useful: Earthscapes Nursery

Yarthkin, COOL site. I ran a search and came up with a huge list! It's going to be fun looking into some of the plants. I like all the different info you can add to your query.

Sal Mando, I'm just north of Oxford. I just checked out Earthscapes and I think I'll deifnitely have to pay them a visit ;-).

:-) Mel

I have a rain garden that I put in last summer. I am adding more plants this year and one of them for the deeper areas is ironweed. I have to research carefully so I do not plant food for all the bunnies around here!

Good luck...you will like it!

I recommend the cardinal flower. It loves wet places and the hummers love it. Mine sulks when it gets the least bit dry and it is growing next to my outdoor faucet. He needs a different spot but I need to find a wet one.

And I recommend Carnivorous Plants!!!

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dont worry about the size being small- we just had a speaker at our garden club who does rain gardens- she said the size doesnt matter. she has a rain garden around her mail box where water was standing after rains, she brought pics that were wonderful. this are was about the same as yours maybe 30 or 40 square feet.

Hi, Also zone 6A, Northern Kentucky. Cannas are used by pros where water is a problem in newly desiged yards/gardens. I planted one where the A/C pumps water out onto the side yard. It only gets "swampy" when A/C is on 24/7. Like July and August!
I also planted a water lily there and it does fine. They both come back every year.

I have the yard mowed for me (bad back), so to protect it from the mower I have put a 3 feet secion of landscape timber on either side of this small space. The house is on 3rd side and neighbors driveway is 4th side. So, this is a very small area. I'm just making use of the "free" water that would otherwise run down my neighbors drivewar during the hottest part of summer.
Good Luck!
David W.

I just found this forum and am really getting psyched up for spring! This is all new to me and I need some help.

We live in NJ, shaded woodland area with several spring fed natural bogs. They already have some really neat stuff growing there along with some wonderful wildlife-wood turtles, box turtles, several types of toads, salamanders, etc. Shhhh, don't tell anyone but there are mudpuppies in the creek. The fish and game people swear to me in a very condescending way that there are NO mudpuppies in NJ. :p

Anyway, I'd like to put in a walkway and start to introduce some other plant species. I already have pitcher plants, jewelweed, violets (blue, white, yellow), loostrife, solomon's seal, may apple, phlox and too many others to mention. I'd like to introduce some more color-cardinal flower, iris. Any suggestions?

Great info! I just purchased a house, so I am ready to garden in the spring! However, in the property disclosure, the previous owner stated that the back corner of the yard flooded during heavy rains. Well, as many Ohioans know, we've had TONS of rain lately and the ground is so saturated, the entire back end of my back yard is flooded. Thankfully, the water recedes within 24 hrs or so. The yard is a rectangle, 55' x 135'. The 55' end is what gets flooded, as it is at the bottom of a slope. I would LOVE to put in a rain garden, or some sort of wet-feet landscaping that doesn't mind dry periods. I am so glad I found this post, because now I have some ideas! If I could collect some indigenous plants, that would be great. The Earthscapes link is awesome! I also have been to the Ohio Prairie site, and they have complete packages of plants for rain gardens. A little pricey, but at least it gives me some ideas!