A Moist Oasis: A Ongoing Experiment in Bog Planting


    Bog gardens don't often come to mind when one thinks of the desert city of El Paso, yet in this humble clay pot that's exactly what is being created. A bit of back history on this planting. In its initial design it was home to a native honeysuckle which had died due to water logging and subsequent root rot. The remains of the honeysuckle remained for almost a year before being removed. During this time however the idea for the bog pot came into being.
    This clay pot has one drainage hole has long since been plugged. It takes about 20 minutes or more for water to level out with the top layers of the soil and another 20 before any starts to drip from the bottom of the pot. This makes it ideal for those plants which thrive in those muddy conditions, conditions that are currently found nowhere else in the garden (more on that later). The soil is a rich humus which when dug into feels like puddling at its wettest moments and cool and airy when dry. It these kinds of conditions that many classic bog plants thrive. Experimentation with several of these plants in the drier woodland plantings have resulted in death, it was only in this pot that for example I was able to have success with the genus Astilbe. In a way this pot is an ongoing experiment in what thrives in boggy shade and the results are exciting. In the future the plan is to create several small ponds and thus surrounding them bog plantings. This is done to provide new areas of interest and attraction for wildlife, after all diversity is the stuff of life, but more on that in a later post.
   The current pot is home to several bog styled plants all of which are currently in a state of recovery. Roughly three months ago the entire planting was replanted due the soil level being too low and thus many of the plants where hidden, in particular with Heuchera sanguinea 'Firefly'. Many of the plants soon went into some state of shock, with Athyrium experiencing massive die back. However, no one has been lost and there is hope that they all shall return to their former glory.
   This planting is heavily reliant on texture and the color green, as is typical of many shade-based plantings. However as per the norm I wished to deviate from this and add sparks of color throughout the seasons both for human and pollinator interest. The season shall open up early with two bulbs beginning the season of blooms. In terms of bulbs, they are all white in color, the color white being excellent as it would show more in the shade then it would in a sunnier position. Several perennials bloom from late spring till falls first frost. Perennial flower colors lean more towards bright oranges and reds with shades of pinks being added as well. This is done to act as a beacon in what is a rather forgotten corner. The pink blossoms act as linkage between the reds, oranges and the white flowers creating a sense of harmony. Beyond the blooms, a variety of textures also provide interest, with several plants being evergreen in nature as well.
    The future of this pot is one of further experimentation. An extension of season is needed especially in regard to the fall and winter. However regardless of what happens it has provided a lesson in bog gardening that was otherwise impossible prior.

                                                                      Plantings
                                                                     Perennials

Hosta 'Cheatin Heart'
Juncus effusus f. spiralis
  • Lobelia x speciosa 'Starship scarlet'
  • Heuchera sanguinea 'Firefly'
  • Juncus effusus f. spiralis
  • Carex oshimensis 'Evergold'
  • Athyrium niponicum var. pictum
  • Hosta 'Cheatin heart'
  • Boltonia asteroides var. latisquama 'Snowbank'
  • Impatiens pritzelii 'Sichuaan gold'
  • Astilbe 'Younique carmine'
  • Begonia sinensis 'Red undies'
  • Geum 'Koi'
Lobelia x speciosa 'Starship scarlet'
Carex oshimensis 'Evergold' &
Heuchera sanguinea 'Firefly'

                                                                                                  Bulbs

  •                Leucojum aestivum
  •                Fritillaria meleagris
  •                Allium triquetrum     
                    Others 
  •                Lonicera pilosa
  •                Mandevilla laxa                                                   

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