OK, did more research. the plant should not be in standing water, though they can survive being submerge for a time.

Paul

Soil shouldn't smell rotten. Could it be the rotting leaves?

I've seen bellworts and celadine poppies in woodland settings but not in wet locations. I have them in my own woodland garden which has an average woodland moisture level. I wouldn't expect them to be a good pond-edge plant.

I have seen the great blue lobelia close to pond and other water areas but never any place were it would be wet/in standing water.

I would probably look for jewelweed, cattail (they'll plant themselves), eupatoriums, flags (iris), pickerelweed, arrowhead, water lilies. and so on for varying degrees of wet soil or standing water. Research them more for your conditions.

FataMorgana

Yes, I think it's the leaves that are rotting. Here's some pictures of the area:

The following is at the edge of the water. Normally the water is not that close, but we had a lot of rain recently. This is where I am thinking of planting the cardinal flower, great blue lobelia, Queen of the Prairie, and sneeze weed :

Note that the lady recommended those flowers because she has them growing near a pond and said those plants like to have a wet feet.

Here's where I am thinking of growing the Bellworts and Celandine Poppy.

Alternately, I can plant them underneath this tree, but it seemed a bit dry there:

Paul

That seems like a good plan.

I just visited a site in NC and bellworts were growing in a very wet area near a waterfall. I was very surprised to see them there but they obviously have adapted.

But I would not put transplanted bellworts in an overly wet area; they will seed into the wet area if they are capable.

You could try pitcher plants, sundews and the like if they will tolerate your zone. You could also look into what wetlands plants will work in Illinois.

If at all possible, use plants from a nursery. Many times wetland plants can be a protected species like with the pitcher plants.

I planted one poppy and one bellwort in front underneath a tree next to some shrubs. Both seemed a bit delicate, so I figure some wind protection would be helpful. The soil was fairly moist, black, crumbly, and have a few earthworms.

I planted one poppy in the back, but the soil was really hard to work with. It was black, too but the stuff was really mushy, dense, with a top layer of decaying leaves and tons of earthworms. I am getting a more heavy duty spade.

Paul

I have cardinal flowers that are IN the pond, under about six inches of water. They look great. Mother Nature put them there. I also have plants that seeded out in many other places, some not so wet. They are short-lived perennials but seed out, so don't be disappointed if your plants don't follow your plan.

Planted some plants in the back and the front. Here's the two plants in the front.

celandine poppy

Bellwort

Let's hope they live. I got a soil test recently and notice that the soil is actually pretty good, but the PH is fairly high at 7.5 and I am low on phosphorus.

Paul

Nice looking plants.

Some of the plants you listed may like acid soil, so you need to double check requirements if your soil is 7.5. A successful native plant garden (50+ years!) near me has soil of 6. Mine is lower, so I have to put some pieces of concrete or limestone rocks near a few plants.

Earthworms are good fish bait. Is the detention pond large enough to have any good fish in it?

According to Dave's Garden, most of them will take PH up to 7.5, so it's hard to tell if it will work or not since I am at the edge. I did try to lower the PH a bit using some peat moss, but it's hard to tell if it will work. Sulfur may work better, but I am more concern that I will apply it incorrectly.

As for the retention pond, it's big enough for fish, but it does dry up in the summer.

The woodland poppy has open its flower, I immediately spray it with some repellant. I notice that my tulips have all managed to spend one day in bloom before being destroyed, and I can't tell who's doing it. I am thinking it's either the rabbit or the squirrel.

Paul

Woodland poppy have finally opened!

Hope the flowers in the backyard self-seed like crazy!

Paul