Beautiful Mud: A bog garden turns a soggy site into a blooming wonder

摘要

Bright flowers, towering reeds, and dramatic foliage are a far remove from what many of us picture when we hear the word bog. But there's no reason this vision can't be a reality. A bog garden—imagine a hybrid of flowerbed and water garden—presentsa unique opportunity to grow butterfly flowers, corkscrew rush, and other plants that are happiest when their feet are wet and their legs are dry.It's easy to recognize potential bog garden sites. Since water runs downhill, look for boggy areas at the base of hills and in natural depressions. These will be the places where the yard never quite dries out and the soil ranges from a bit squishy to downright soggy. The topsoil might appear dry at times, but the root zone should always be moist.