When I first began collecting carnivorous plants I kept them in containers with the containers placed in trays of water. As my collection
grew I built a bog using a large piece of pond liner I had along with some scrap wood. This worked fine for the next couple of years
but before long my collection had outgrown the original bog. I dicided to build another bog, applying what I had learned over the first
few years to make improvements. This bog would be bigger, deeper, and have a built in drain.

Construction

I leveled an area about 6 feet wide by 14 feet long. The bog would be 5 feet by 12 feet and 18 inches deep. I used 2x6 lumber for
the ends and sides, stacked 3 high for an actual depth of 161/2 inches. I used PVC pond liner inside the framework. I graded the
ground beneath so that there was a very slight slope toward one end. I placed a piece of perforated drainage pipe down the
middle and covered it with pea gravel. I then put in 6 inches of clean sand and leveled it out. The picture shows the box with black
PVC liner and 6 inches of sand. It took a little over a cubic yard. The lower end is where I placed a draing by drilling a hole at
ground level with a section of pipe coming thru the side with a valve outside. It has a very slight leak where the pipe pierces
the liner.



Adding the Planting Medium

I used the tractor to mix up a couple of yards of peatmoss and sand. I filled the bog almost completely full. I knew it woud settle
some and I wanted the soil level right up near the top surrounding deck. I wet the soil down with the drain closed and let it soak
for a couple of days. I added a little more to bring the soil level up and wet that. Then I started transfering plants from containers
and from my very first, crude bog in the ground nearby. Much of the green you see below is Sphagnum moss. Big mistake.
I love the way it looks but in our climate and conditions it just smuthers everything but the tall Sarracenia. I kept it under control somewhat
in this bog but had to pull large amounts out. This bog looked really great after 2 years but this year I have to move it. My bamboo nursery
needs more room. We live in a very wooded area and the carnivorous plants need lots of sun. The location of this bog is a prime sunny
spot but the surrounding bamboo plants are shading it out. I have cleared an area of about 1/2 acre on another part of the property
that also gets lots of sun. I have bogs under construction there and will be moving plant in the spring.