The Bog Garden

The bog garden is a half whiskey barrel. Originally, I put a plastic liner in it and used it as a transfer station for plants and fish before being put in our garden pond. Eventually, it developed a life of its own after being partially filled.

I had basically ignored it for about a year until I noticed the covering moss developing. I decided to leave it alone and watch what happened. It’s become a big experiment in small environment symbiotic relationships. Last summer, I did a census of the bog in a barrel and found twenty-three species that I could identify.

What active role do I play? At this point, very little. During very dry spells, I make sure it has sufficient water, and I remove any invasive species I see. I think my only addition was some galutheria procumbens ( tea berry). This time of year, it’s a carpet of dead annuals and perennials, and lots of sphagnum mosses forming its peaty overlay. The photo is from the summer, when it’s a riot of plants and small flowers.