Sorry no one has replied to you yet! This is a tough one, and I don't really have a good answer either. It's hard to imagine it -- maybe it would be easier if you post a photo to go with your description. If you need plants that can handle the sogginess, think of things that grow along creeks in your area. Some shrubby willows along the "shore" of the swale might be helpful. Arctic Blue Willow is a great plant at my house and you can always clone it just by sticking a cut branch in water. It roots in about 2.3 seconds!

I waited for somebody else to reply because I really don't have any good suggestions.

The only thing I can think of is to try to plant some native plants there. Western wheatgrass can handle both flooding and drought pretty well.

Everything I can think of would probably slow the water down too much, but I'd agree with bpgreen, western wheatgrass is attractive and low maintenance. How high would the blue willow grow?

Well, if it was concrete, you could hire the neighborhood youth to spray paint it like a skateboard park.

Hi bunkers,

I guess I'm not the only one who's been hovering around the edges of this one!

I agree with stevation about the photos! I don't have a clear picture of what you're trying to do. Are you looking for something to plant along the edges of the swale---or in it over/around the cobbles----or none of the above!

I lived in the hilly area just north of Parker for 20 years and there was a flood plain that ran across the lower part of the neighbor's property just below me. One year we DID get a 100-year flood in the Parker area, and it was amazing! The gully filled up to the top and over the banks and in a wide swath across the road. When the rain stopped, the kids had a ball---briefly! All the houses were above the water line, so no one had structural damage. And in a couple hours it was all gone! And, even though we had some really hard rainfalls at other times, that's the ONLY time I ever remember seeing water in the gully! There was probably some at times, but not enough to make much difference. Unless this is an area where you have reason to expect wet conditions outside of flooding rain conditions, I think you need to plan for more typically Colorado xeric stuff! Even most of the xeric stuff will love an occasional good drenching! And unless we get a VERY unusual year--like 1965, when it rained daily for a week and THEN we got a "catastrophic" downpour, when we had the flood that washed out all the bridges into downtown except one and large sections of I25 going down to the Springs--you're not going to need to worry about too much moisture! I don't remember for sure, but I think that was a 500-year flood! (Still have the newspaper pictures of it---and my own!) But even after THAT, except in the very localized Platte basin, everything else dried out again in short order!

If you can, post pictures, or try to give us a better idea of where/what you want to plant,
Skybird

Here is a link that might be useful: 1965 Denver flood!

The swale has not been constructed yet. This project is just finished getting approved by the city stormwater engineers. Here is a picture of the area (post flood, pre swale). http://new.photos.yahoo.com/bunkers/photo/294928803589206085/0

The front yard will be grass, but the rear yard (shown in this picture) will be 12" deep in 4-5" cobble (so at the 1' bottom of this swale, there is an additional 12" of cobble lining the bottom of the swale).

I guess my specific question is -- "can I make anything decent out of this swale, or will it need to be a rock lined swale forever?"

I wil thinking about possibly putting in a bridge over it, since I already have a gate to the neighbors house and its a well travelled path for the kids. I know the kids don't need a bridge to cross, as it won't be wet except during and shortly thereafter the major storms. But I wasn't sure if there would be a way to naturalize it in a way which doesn't impede the water flows but would improve the athestics.
Thanks again, Scott.

Here is a link that might be useful: picture of back yard future swale

Hi bunkers,

I think your idea for a bridge is a great one! I'd just treat is like a dry streambed and landscape it accordingly. Plant whatever you like, trees, bushes, and perennials all along and right up to the edges of it--with things that will overhang it somewhat and even groundcover type things that might start to spread into it. That'll soften the edges of it. Low groundcovers shouldn't interfere at all with any water flow when it's needed for real use! Just don't plant anything with deep roots--trees & bushes--too close to the underground lines since the roots could eventually find their way into the drainage pipes and interfere with the flow. I'd plan it with vines on the fence, trees & bushes in various places, and LOTS of perennials (can you tell I'm prejudiced in favor of perennials!). There's lots of low groundcovers that would look great and spread easily at the edges. A mix of different creeping thymes--with different color flowers--would look good and spread around the cobbles, and Ajuga is another possibility--and there's lots more. There's a lot of creeping Veronica's. My favorite is 'Waterperry'. I'd add a few ornamental grasses too--I love them--which will give you winter interest. Lots of people put dry creeks into their landscaping and have to pay for it! You're getting yours put in free!

I think it'll look great in a couple years when things start to get established.

Happy planning,
Skybird