Half-barrel bog garden?

[mrbadexample]

Greetings.

I hope this is in the right place - it's not flowers but it is non-edibles.

I want to make this:



Into a bog garden, with some drosera, dionaea, sarracenia and darlingtonia (assuming I can find varieties that are sufficiently hardy - I think I can).

Has anyone done this before, and do you have any advice for me before I muck it up?

Cheers,
MBE

[piskieinboots]

I haven't done it - but it sounds like a wonderful idea! Do post pictures when you've done it please

[mrbadexample]

A couple of pics to give an update on the construction so far:



I've lined the barrel with the excess liner from my recently made pond. Drilled a hole near the bottom, through which I pushed a pipe with a screw-thread tap connector on the outside. I made a reservoir from the bottom of an old kitchen bin, and fitted a vertical inlet pipe. I've added some polystyrene to save weight and substrate, and it will hopefully provide a little thermal insulation too.

I'll mix and add the substrate later this week.

[mrbadexample]

Some more pics:



I changed the bags holding the polystyrene for some of heavier gauge. Filled the barrel with 50% peat, 25% horticultural grade sharp sand and 25% perlite. Used a layer of crushed granite at the bottom to cover the pipework and act as a bit of a water reservoir.

Then attached some bamboo screening to serve as a windbreak, giving the taller sarracenias some shelter.

Then started putting in plants. I've still got some left so will fill most of the gaps.

[mrbadexample]

A closer look at some of the plants:



It'll look much better when the plants have settled in a bit, and the moss starts to cover the surface.

Quite pleased though.

Oh, the whole thing is netted to keep the birds off and the bumblebees out of the pitcher plants. Bit of a conflict of interest there - I like the carnivorous plants but I need the pollinators.

[jessmorris]

Coolio! How brilliant! the only prob I think you may have is keeping the humidity high enough. But wow, it looks great!
I used my half barrel as a small pond and have lesser bullrush (Schoenoplectus tabermontanii - I think...) and white waterlilies...

[mrbadexample]

Coolio! How brilliant! the only prob I think you may have is keeping the humidity high enough. But wow, it looks great!

Humidity not a problem in this weather.

And thanks.

[kentishgal]

wow, that looks great!
I love mini gardens. I have a mini alpine garden in a similar sized trug by my back door!

[Feral007]

Looks cool - thinking that I need some carnivorous plants that can eat massive aussie blowflies....thanks for that tip!

[mrbadexample]

Thought I'd update this with how it looks now:



One of my favourite things in the garden, even if I can't eat it.

[veggiechicken]

That's amazing MBE - looks so well-established that I can't believe its only 2 years since you planted it.

[mrbadexample]

Thanks VC. It has matured rather well, and quickly as you say. All I do is top up the rainwater reservoir, weed it (with tweezers, normally!), pull off the odd dead or dying leaf or pitcher, and bubble wrap / fleece it for the winter. Easy as pi.

It does live under a net to keep the dopey bumble bees out.

[Bren In Pots]

MBE that's really pretty

[mrbadexample]

Thanks Bren, I think so too. Carnivorous plants have great flowers:

Sarracenia purpurea:



Pinguicula grandiflora:



Utricularia bisquamata:



The sundews and fly traps will be flowering very soon too.

[robmarston]

Wow, wow and wow. Amazing little garden.


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