Bog done - pond to follow someday

[Hound Heaven]

I've dabbled with tanks/ponds for a few years and have made myself lots of learning opportunities (aka screw ups). After moving to TN 2 summers ago from AZ, I wanted to grow lotus and eventually have another goldfish pond. After lots of reading here I was inspired to build a bog filter first, so I made one 9 x 4 feet, 2.5 feet deep and then placed a 100 gallon stock tank next to it for my lotus. The plan is to dig a pond with an intake bay in front of the bog but for now the lotus tank with a few goldfish feed the bog and the bog rewards me with a great spot to experiment with plants.

I'm experimenting with lots of stuff in the bog: hibiscus, elephant ears, cannas, callas, Siberian Iris, hostas, butterfly ginger, Mexican petunia, liriope, rain lily and even strawberry runners. My best success has been my first ever lotus flower. I raise/lower the bog water level every few days to thwart the mosquitos and that seems to work until I can provide running water into a pond.

Unclear how soon I’ll be tackling the remainder of the pond plan but I’ll welcome your suggestions when I get started. Your creativity and enthusiasm is infectious.

 

[brokensword]

I've dabbled with tanks/ponds for a few years and have made myself lots of learning opportunities (aka screw ups). After moving to TN 2 summers ago from AZ, I wanted to grow lotus and eventually have another goldfish pond. After lots of reading here I was inspired to build a bog filter first, so I made one 9 x 4 feet, 2.5 feet deep and then placed a 100 gallon stock tank next to it for my lotus. The plan is to dig a pond with an intake bay in front of the bog but for now the lotus tank with a few goldfish feed the bog and the bog rewards me with a great spot to experiment with plants.

I'm experimenting with lots of stuff in the bog: hibiscus, elephant ears, cannas, callas, Siberian Iris, hostas, butterfly ginger, Mexican petunia, liriope, rain lily and even strawberry runners. My best success has been my first ever lotus flower. I raise/lower the bog water level every few days to thwart the mosquitos and that seems to work until I can provide running water into a pond.

Unclear how soon I’ll be tackling the remainder of the pond plan but I’ll welcome your suggestions when I get started. Your creativity and enthusiasm is infectious.

Nice!

You're one of a kind; usually, we get people doing it the opposite way--pond, then (eventually) bog!

 

[Hound Heaven]

Nice!

You're one of a kind; usually, we get people doing it the opposite way--pond, then (eventually) bog!

I've been called that before

 

[addy1]

Welcome to the forum!

Very nice planted bog and pretty lotus.

 

[Hound Heaven]

Thank you Addy!

 

[combatwombat]

Looks very lush! Just imagine how great it'll be once it's powered by fish poo!

 

[Hound Heaven]

Thanks -- the bog plants have been the most surprising. Most anything grows in there. Yep - so far the fish poo is minimal but it seems to be working

 

[j.w]

@Hound Heaven

 

[Hound Heaven]

Thank you!

 

[SarahT]

Very nice selection of plants; they look beautiful together.

 

[Hound Heaven]

Thanks very much - I'm enjoying the experiment I'm new to the wet climate so it's fun to watch how many things can thrive here, I now have strawberry runners trying to bloom in the bog. Plus I'm now ready to divide some things -- anyone interested in some butterfly ginger divisions let me know. I have two or three that need a new home.
OH -- and I just found my 2nd lotus bud! Soooo fun