Bog gardening

[cohan]

fred, nice to see the platantheras and others...we have tons of bog orchids here, but 'not showy' would be the best you could say of most Spiranthes is the exception, flashiest of the bunch here, but that's much less common than platantheras; nothing like the tall colourful ones you show!

[Ragged Robin]

Thanks Fred for your idea and I will see what I can achieve and what I can source with orchids locally.  There are some very good nurseries around here.  Getting to know where a plant likes to be in the garden is a key factor and therefore being portable could help locate that special place 

[fredg]

Robin

If you acquire bog orchids, use a tub which does not have pre-drilled drainage.
Drill a series of holes in the side 6 - 7" (15 - 18cm) below the surface of the medium, dependent on the depth of the tub.
That will maintain a fixed reservoir of water and provide the bog conditions.

[christian pfalz]

hi all,
my new project, lthree little bogs....and under a cherry tree an bog for shadow lovely plants.....
all the plants are endemic here in my area, osmunda, dryopteris, blechnum and grasses...







cheers
chris

[Ragged Robin]

Chris, you always make the most utility object part of an artistic design    I can see now how to follow suit in my little garden where I already have ferns and grasses growing along with other plants under a tree - whereas most are wet enough, as we are on gravel base and high water table near a river,  some plants do suffer on hot days, when the tree roots must take up a lot of moisture, and I will replant them in tubs.

Fred I shall follow your method for the tubs and will look out for some bog orchids which would look terrific in this situation I think, thanks to you both 

[christian pfalz]

hello robin,
thanks for the flowers 
itīs nice to hear such positive answers....
greetings
chris

[Lesley Cox]

A little bog garden in a wooden tub is a very good idea and one I'll go with when I get a new half barrel. These are available from garden centres and have the additional bonus of a glorious aroma, when wet. The barrels are what Bourbon whisky is imported in, from the States. Years ago I had two, propped up at an angle at mid waist/chest level, so that the tops sort of faced me. Filled with mixes, one very gritty and the other strongly humusy, I used them for a number of years as my potting place for my very tiny nursery. Every time it rained, I really looked forward to more potting and was happy to hurry out to get on with it.

[christian pfalz]

hello, a little update.....










best regards
chris

[Gerhard Raschun]

In my opinion in fall the bog garden reaches a secong spring: Before the leaves of Sarracenia spp. will die the chance into very dark colourations. Here are some picts ( made last Sunday) of my collection.....

[Gerhard Raschun]

dark tuber forms is the priority of each Sarracenia lover !

[Ragged Robin]

Gerhard, your bog garden looks luminous with plant life in this Autumn - I love the effect and am particularly drawn to the combination of Sarracenia leucophylla MKL9 with Spiranthes cernua ssp odorata growing together in that gorgeous filtered light 

[mark smyth]

Christian where do you find the old tree stumps - those around your bog garden? I have searched the woods around here but never see any

[christian pfalz]

mark, these trunks are from the wood near my home, theres a lot of them, but many big ones, and heavy 
iīve seen thre ao four ones last week, letīs see if it is warmer 
cheers
chris

[mark smyth]

What kind of trees are in your wood? My local is mixed deciduous

[christian pfalz]

mark, mixed forest.....
cheers
chris