If you build a bog, they will grow.

[DirtyDivisions]

In June of 2013 I found myself to have a lot of extra free time, pots and pots of Sarracenia, and a little more cash flow so the only logical thing to do was to build an in ground bog.  I decided to build a patio around the bog making the bog the focal point:

Next, it was time to dig a 2ft deep 10'x12' pit of despair:

I then proceeded to line the pit with a heavy duty pond liner.  As you can see I had a lot of extra liner left.  Not to let it go to waste I fashioned a pair of pants and a headband out of the remaining pond liner.  Try not to be jealous:

A 6 in layer of filter sand was added to act as a reservoir holding extra H2O so I wouldn't have to water the bog as often:

Now, it was time to get dirty so I put an ad on Craigslist.  After getting no response to my ad I decided that posting a pic of me in my pond liner pants was not a good idea.  I was left to mixing the peat, sand, and rainwater by myself:

Finally, after 4,000 wheelbarrows of soil mixture and water, the bog was filled to the top:

I finished the pavers in front of the bog and then it was time for PLANTING!:

I started with planting a division of my first Sarracenia, 'Scarlet Belle', along with a few B-52 flytraps:

After a few hours of planting my bog was close to being complete:

Planted a B-52 colony on the edge to snap at the toes of all who tried to venture too close to the bog:

Sabatia bartramii:

Two flies getting crunk on some nectar:











S. Flava Ornata pod holding the seeds to the seedlings that I am now growing under some T5s:

Mr. Toad sneaking up on the creepy bog fairy:
:
'HCW' pitcher opening!:

I wish this wiggliness in this alata was a stable trait...S. 'Mr. Wiggles':


My buddy, 'Bud Wilkerson':

One of the many tree frogs hanging out on one of my leucs:

S. minor var.okefenokeensis:



Blazing Star, Liatris spicata:

Coreopsis floridana:





2013 had a great growing season for me and I can't wait to see what 2014 has in store for me.  This is what the bog looked like this evening.  Plants are finally starting to come out of dormancy!:

I will continue to post more pics throughout this growing season.

[cpbobby]

love it!

[H2O]

Awesome pictures and plants! Your bog is going to look amazing this summer (not that is didn't last year). I love how you dedicated the area for it. I can't wait for updated on this.

[Jonathan Mejia]

DirtyDivisions
Seriously one of the coolest posts on the forum thus far. Love the sense of humor in the beginning and the use of oddities.

Here is another thread created for oddities, that also bears a sense of humor:
sarracenia.proboards.com/thread/659/lips

[DirtyDivisions]

Thank YOU, everyone! Had had so much fun with this bog last year. Now with the the plants established 2014 is going to be a beautiful year for this bog.

Jonathan Mejia, I really enjoyed that thread on the Kinky Lips.  I actually signed up to be a member of this forum last year so that I could post on that thread.  I posted a pic of my almost double-lip flava ornata on it.  Hopefully that plant produces another pitcher like that this year!

[stevebooth]

Lovely job, there is something immensely satisfying about bog building and planting (but not necessarily while you are doing it). The palnts will fill out this year and pack the bog to almost overflowing.
I notice in the last picture, true to the form of most growers, no matter how much space you create (new bog) there are always more plants in pots looking for homes.
Nice to see
Thanks
Steve

[cpbobby]

if you don't mind me asking what are some of the non-carnivorous bog plants you chose to put in there?

[calen]

Way to go Naturenuts - great photo-essay! And re: pond-liner pants: I'm from San Francisco and your Craigslist ad would have gotten some interest around here LOL! Just lined another water table with the stuff yesterday and I've got some extra...

Also, is that P. planifolia photobombing the Sarrs in the first few photos? All your plants look like they're doing great in that FL sunshine - keep it up!

[boggrower]

Awesome bog. What species of Lobelia, Liatris and Coreopsis were in there?

[meizzwang]

OMG!!!! Hats off naturenuts-that bog is jaw-dropping!!! I'm very impressed-BRAVO! The rock pavers around the bog are aesthetically pleasing, and it also prevents weeds and pests from entering the bog. You also have some very quality clones up in there.

[Jonathan Mejia]

Some advice for anyone building a bog, and the main idea of DirtyDivisions post:

[Deleted]

Wow! That is amazing!

[DirtyDivisions]

stevebooth, so true indeed. The only mistake I made with this bog was making it too small. I need to build another bog already. Feel free to come to Florida to help me dig another one. You could wear my plastic pond liner pants!

cpbobby, some of the non-carnivorous plants I can remember off the top of my head are Blazing Star, Florida Coreopsis, grass pink orchids, Sabatia bartramii, club moss...Those are the plants that did well last year and seem like they are going to come back this year. I am also putting some Habenaria radiata (Egret Flower) in the bog as soon as it arrives in the mail next week.

calen, go for it man!  Make those pants!  That is indeed a P. planiflora photobombing a few of the pics.  I have 4 beautiful specimens of them randomly planted in the bog.

boggrower, I can't recall the name of the Lobelia right now.  Pictured is Blazing Star (Liaris spicata) and Coreopsis floridana.

meizzwang, Thank you so much!  It's good to hear praise from a Sarracenia God such as yourself.  There are quite a few plants in the bog that came from you including Flava black veins, HCW, and a few ornatas.  The S. 'Adrian Slack' I just got from you is also doing fabulous and is sending up my first pitcher of 2014.

[boggrower]

I wouldn't mind some of those Coreopsis, if you ever divide them.

I would be careful with the Habenaria radiata. They rot at the drop of a hat in the winter. You have to keep them barely, and I mean barely moist and even then you might have problems. I lost my "double" one this year to rot. I would recommend Eleorchis if you can find one. They look like minature Arethusa and are as easy to grow as Pogonia...although they are much much slower to spread.

[sunbelle]

Really nice looking bog garden, Naturenuts! Wish we could pull that off down here, but we're just a bit too tropical. We look forward to seeing what happens in the next few months. We're sure it will be spectacular. Tallahassee is a fantastic place to be growing Sarracenia, you have the advantage of your personal plants at home and a visit to natural Sarracenia sites are not far away. Look forward to your pics here on the forum!