inexpensive bog garden/weekend project

by peggy
(junction city, wisconsin)

I wanted a water feature that would double as a bird bath.

I went to my local home improvement store and purchased: a plastic barrel liner, a small pond pump, hose, a plastic saucer, a bag of river rock and a large tarp (8x10).

After deciding where I would place my bog garden, I dug my hole (approx 1 1/2 feet deep, 4' x 6'), placing the excavated dirt in a wheel barrow.

I kept a ledge around the outside of the hole as you would if digging for a pond liner. Next I made a few dry runs with the tarp to make sure it was the size I wanted.

I lined the hole with the tarp and refilled it with dirt from the hole, compost and peat moss. I placed the barrel liner on one end topping it with a grate, some hardware cloth and the plastic liner. I also inserted my pump at this time and ran the hose out to one end.

I placed rocks all along the ledge and over the excess tarp. I also was able to have a small water fall above the bird bath.

After some trial and error, the water fall produced the effect I was looking for. I purchased some bog plants (on sale because it was end of season) and moved a few day lilies around to the outside.

I am very pleased how it turned out and only spent about $75.00.