CULT: Moisture/Rot Question

I am wondering if I can get your advice about the proper definition of "good 
drainage" since every set of iris growing directions says this is vital.

I ask because I have raised beds, which always work great for herbs, 
vegetables, etc. However, with the immense rain we've had lately I noticed today that 
the soil is still somewhat moist in one back part of the bed, and we've had 
two rare sunny days in a row. It's been clear and pleasant. By moist I mean that 
my fingers are not literally wet when I dig them into the soil, but that the 
soil has a spongy texture. My rhizomes are now covered by about a 1/4 inch due 
to crickets. And when I scooted some of the dirt off of a couple of the 
rhizomes, they looked and felt damp. Is this what causes rot? Or is the so-called 
"wet feet" I have read about exposure to more extreme moisture on a regular or 
unyielding basis? I still have some rhizomes to plant in another bed, and so I 
am adding more peat moss to it--it's well composted, good dirt.

Sorry to sound like an idiot in describing various types of "wetness", but I 
really don't want to ignore a problem that will kill these pretty flowers if 
one exists which I could fix. I thought I had good drainage, but now I don't 
know!

Any feedback as always is most appreciated.

Mike in Myrtle Beach

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