A "Sky Bog"

[Timothy]

Here's another (h)air-brained idea that occurred to me last fall, but I couldn't pursue it until now. I mentioned in another thread that we had a huge juniper bush by the "inn" and when that was deemed excess and had to come out it left a piece of real estate that I filled with what we call "The Annex". We pushed and tugged a few rocks around to fill it in and started a little "grotto" -type garden that will mature into a pleasant little place just to visit.


We have Clematis climbing up the sunny legs, and several Yarrows around the front. I had thought of wisteria and a few other vines to grow up around the legs to provide a "roof" of sorts, then considered the time involved to have the coverage my mind's eye saw.
Enter the idea...........what if instead of having vines growing up the legs and across the "roof" I built a couple of plumbed in linered mini bogs and had stuff growing across the top and flowing down? A couple of long boxes down each side with some lattice across the "rafters" to support the growth. I'm thinking it shouldn't take too long to see some results. Full sun, pond water, and although not large they should prove to be a benefit.
Here's a few photos of where the project is this afternoon. I'll detail the plumbing and continued construction in a subsequent post.


The boxes/troughs will sit on cleats fastened to the inside


Roughed out box ready for a trial fit before the liner


First box test-fit on the cleats. The boxes are a slide fit and shouldn't sag because of the side fasteners. The cleats won't move because the "rafters" are notched and won't allow the header to move outward. There will be trim pieces to cover the exposed fasteners.


I have the supply line figured out for the back side of the structure (accessible, but not visually obtrusive) with valves dedicated to each box so the flow (the pump is rated at a thirteen foot head. We're at eight feet,) can be controlled and not over come the return..........
.......here's hoping anyway.

 

[crsublette]

Love it!

 

[RobAmy]

Interesting idea

 

[Tula]

I'll follow this with interest

 

[CeeJayH]

Great idea, will follow progress with interest.

 

[cas]

I love creative ideas. Can't wait to see more pictures.

 

[Nepen]

NO WISTERIA!!!!!!!!!!

I think we kinda had this conversation a while ago My land is infested with wisteria and killed all my big trees. ONLY native wisteria is a safe choice to plant. Dont by Asian wisteria. You know by their time of blooming. Invasive wisteria blooms very early (blooming a few weeks ago and still blooming now)

Soon when i have time i'll go out with a chain saw and cut them all up. but with 100s little vines and 100s big ones per tree it's going to be a big big job.

ok, that's out of my system

I have the same pergola! that's a great idea i'll have to see if my husband will agree to something like this

 

[Timothy]

Thank you all for the comments and interest!

Nepen, the "no Wisteria" was one of the reasons I pursued this avenue. I wanted something that would accomplish the goal quicker without being a problem later on. Whatever I put in these "Sky Bogs" will have to behave because they'll be totally contained and dependent on the water provided. "Bad actors will be severely dealt with..."

I'm open to suggestions as to what should go in these boxes. The criteria being; fast growing, preferably large leaves, full sun, but ample watering available. Flowering would be a plus, and I won't mind an annual culling. They will freeze in the winter, probably to a low of 0 degrees because although they may be damp, I don't want to have them full of water to freeze, expand, and potentially break/spring the box.
We will have Clematis on the corners eventually, so they'll provide a little texture.

 

[Nepen]

I think there's a vine type hibiscus? that'd be my vote.

Any Native plants, like yellow Honeysuckle, Clematis viorna, native climbing Hydrangea, American Bittersweet, Purple Passionflower, Salal...

 

[pecan]

Very cool! I would also love to watch it progress! I love bogs of any kind because they provide plants that I don't have the water

 

[sissy]

purple passion flower is just as bad I planted one little vine and have to clear it out from every where it is now even sending up sprouts under the front porch and also found it growing under the back deck when I put new boards down .I like clematis vines they are easier to control

 

[Nepen]

purple passion flower is just as bad I planted one little vine and have to clear it out from every where it is now even sending up sprouts under the front porch and also found it growing under the back deck when I put new boards down .I like clematis vines they are easier to control

good to know. Thanks!

 

[JBailey]

This is just the inspiration I needed to put some odd salvaged wooden troughs to good use! Not a sky bog, but as shallow planters around the base of my raised metal trough pond, with hidden drip lines from the pond into the troughs. Hoping whatever I plant in the low troughs will enjoy full sun and help shade the metal pond.

 

[Timothy]

This is just the inspiration I needed to put some odd salvaged wooden troughs to good use! Not a sky bog, but as shallow planters around the base of my raised metal trough pond, with hidden drip lines from the pond into the troughs. Hoping whatever I plant in the low troughs will enjoy full sun and help shade the metal pond.

Glad to help!
The only thing I would add is the troughs I'm building will have pond liner in them so the even though the wood I'm using is pressure treated, it won't be permanently saturated.

 

[Timothy]

Very cool! I would also love to watch it progress! I love bogs of any kind because they provide plants that I don't have the water

Agreed! A little work now so I can be a slacker during the summer!