ants in flower area

Question: Hello! I have a--primarily--wildflower garden which we planted about 20 years ago. I have a peony plant at one end (dark berry-colored blossoms), but most of the rest of the area has purple coneflowers, as well as some yarrow, a few evening primrose, and a black-eyed Susan or two. In the past few years, we have had quite a number of ants under, and last year, about a foot away from the peony. They like to hide under our border of limestone rocks. Last fall, we eliminated quite a few of them, but there are still some--though seemingly fewer--this year. 

One observation: while there are a few plants in this more open area by the peonies, the plants look a bit worse for the wear. I don't typically water the flowers in this group/area. I know with it being so dry, it could be related to that, but the other flowers in this same garden don't look as droopy. 

I have several questions about this area:
1. I am interested in moving some bee balm into the area near the peonies. Is it "safe" to put either the bee balm or another plant in that space? I don't want to put that in that area, only to have the ants destroy that. 
2. If it is not safe to move something to that open area near the peonies, what needs to be done to be able to use that area?
2. What is drawing the ants to this area? I know they like peonies, but it seems as if they have been leaving the peonies alone. Perhaps I am mistaken on that front, though.
Thank you for your assistance!

responder: Steve Miles  Master Gardener, Hennepin County MN (I answer using human intelligence, not AI)  Replied July 03, 2023, 2:15 PM EDT
response: Thank you for writing. Ants haul away and break up debris and are inevitable. If they are an overwhelming presence, you can use boric acid bases attractants. https://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7411.html Commercial traps can be found.  Boric acid or boron based ant programs are not seen as toxic to pollinators.  Ants take boron back to the nest.  Do not use imidoclopromid or Neonicotinoids or spinosad containing anti-ant programs--all are toxic to pollinators.

responder: The Question Asker Replied July 03, 2023, 2:23 PM EDT
response: Hello Steve, Thank you for your response to my questions. It sounds as if this is not of great concern. If I understand that correctly, it would seem it is okay to go ahead and plant in the area where the ants have disturbed the soil, provided I don't feel they have taken over that area and are still living there. (In other words, as long as there are not so many ants there that they will bother me while I am planting, I should be good to go ahead and plant.) Is that correct?On Mon, Jul 3, 2023 at 1:15 PM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:

responder: Steve Miles  Master Gardener, Hennepin County MN (I answer using human intelligence, not AI)  Replied July 03, 2023, 7:43 PM EDT
response: Thanks for writing back.  Gardening is basically living in harmony with nature. Ants and honeybees are quite alike: 6 legs, 3 body segments, same organs, same chemistry.  It is really impossible to poison one without affecting the other. (Boric acid is different because ants carry it back to the nest; bees don't.) Leave the ants be. They are doing site clean up for you.

responder: The Question Asker Replied July 06, 2023, 9:53 PM EDT
response: Thank you for your response. I appreciate your time and explanation.On Mon, Jul 3, 2023, 6:43 PM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote: