Very pretty.
What is that pikinsh-purplish flower in the upper left corner in picture #2?

Those are either catmint or salvia - both love clay

LOL My whole property is clay, and yet I can still grow most types of perennials. Sometimes I mix compost and very course sand in the hole if I am planting something that needs sandy soil. Having a slope in my back yard helps, too. Having poor drainage can potentially be more of a challenge than the actual clay soil.

ontnative - my clay garden is near the bottom of a hill. I had to make a channel through the garden to route the water around the plants! We have serious clay here (use to be a corn field I guess).

Anytime I plant anything I add top soil and compost - I swear it all turns to clay after a year LOL

Clay is full of great nutrients and as you say - drainage is the real problem. I would be afraid to add sand to clay as that makes cement.

Love the fence section in the bed. Love the artistic photos too.

That is actually the neighbors fence. They filled it with long grasses and Lilies. It;s nice as it blooms in the spring first, then this garden takes over for a month until my butterfly garden (behind me in the photo) takes over the last week in July.

Very pretty! I love how the plants flow into one another.

I have clay also although mine isn't nearly as heavy or as wet as yours.

I doubt if it was once a cornfield..I don't think corn grows in that type of soil but my parents never farmed so I could be wrong. Corn likes rich soil or sandy soil..like down South.

Grinder, when I suggested adding sand to your clay, I meant a very course sand, almost fine gravel. Do NOT add fine sand or you will get cement as you say. Your garden is lovely. There are many lists of plants that like sun and moisture (unfortunately for me, as I just don't have those conditions.) Next step is to enlarge your garden so you can plant more things.