I like pickerel weed, giant bur-reed, arrow arum, blue flags, and lizard's tail quite a bit, along with various spike rushes as emergent plants. I like horsetail (scouring rush), but it can be invasive so I only add it to water edges with an established emergent and bank population. Swamp milkweed is also nice along with spiderwort a little farther up the bank. I really guess that I like a diversity of plants, and flowers are a plus. A good natural edge and water lilies can soak up a lot of nutrients and cut down on algae problems. It may take a while to work while the plants spread unless you have a lot of money to buy a bunch of plants. Maybe one of the Pond Boss family lives near by and is willing to share? Also hibiscus is spectacular when it blooms.
Hibiscus in one of our wetlands.
P.S. I like woolgrass and monkey flower too.
