Hi Faye. It looks like whatever you are doing is working well. I do a lot of raised beds, mainly for my sempervivum, as we have heavy/hard clay here also. For my perennial beds I have added a lot of compost to the native clay soil and that seems to work well for me. I do have a few no ID semps growing in the clay soil with lots of fine bark and chicken grit so they don't sit on the wet soil and rot.
I love the way you use broken clay pot pieces and the semps seem to love it.

My eyes are crossing from reading!! LOL

I do have a question about the clay pot pieces, do you crush them and work them into the dirt? I could not see close enough or heck, maybe I missed it totally! LOL

Good morning Laura, I believe they are used like piece of garden architecture for the plants to grow around. You can get really creative with it.
Don't forget to eat your carrots.

I use broken clay pots after the pots accidentally get broken. The prettiest ones I have were placed on the ground with the Hens & Chicks still in them when they broke.
This was planted when it broke, I just placed this part on the ground without disturbing the planting.
This was done last year. These are this years pictures.

That is actually very pretty Faye!

I love it Faye. It has such an artistic look. : )

My best plantings are accidents.

I was looking at mine today while weeding. Some have very pretty colors and water markings right now.

I noticed mine are starting to get some fall color too now.