I am in a new construciton home and the drainage in our backyard near the garage is not good. When it rains is floods, they have tried to fix it and it still collects water. What can I plant there that will thrive. Most of the area is shade from the garage so it only drys out when we go without rain for long periods. So I need suggestions for shade plants that don't mind wet feet. Last year I just put pots but I would really like to plant something in that area, I can amend the soil some but I don't want it to wash away.

Thanks

Judy, Have you considered some raised beds? Even raising it a few inches woudl help to increase your plant possibilities. Without that how about sedges (there is a nice article about them in this months Fine Gardening magazine) for more perennials also Cimicifuga (Bugbane), Ligularia, Rodgersia, meadow rue. In areas with a bit more light you could use Siberian and yellow flag iris, turtlehead and blue lobelia. Shrubs could be Summersweet clethra, redtwig dogwood, Winter Red holly and Henry's Garnet Itea. Annual cannas will also work in areas with a bit more light.