![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
I used to grow marigolds when i was a little girl...those and wax begonias seemed to be the only flowers I couldn't kill.
The bonus of marigolds is if you grow them organically the blooms are supposedly good in salads.
We've never had trouble with chives taking over. Ours stay very contained. Mint on the other hand...it suffocated our tarragon (actually, a good thing), then we had to dig for years to get rid of the mint. Is it shade or sun? That determines the plants. As for soil & high water table, try top soil mixed with sand (helps with drainage), and hardwood mulch on top (conserves the moisture & helps keeps buggies' access down). May not immediately help with the bugs, but the soil & plants will enjoy it.I have been wondering if mint and chives would be good to put there since they seem to thrive (and sometimes take over) no matter what the conditions of the soil.