I dug this out of the back and not sure what to do now. It is plugged pretty good and cast iron, this thing weighs a ton! I could open the drain but it would be dificult, and I could crack it or break it. There is a new bed behind that is going to be full of cannas and other plants , full sun from 10am on.
I am totaly wide open on this one. Use it as a planter? Use it as a mini pond? Turn it into a water feature with a small fountain? Could find an old shower head and pipe. Help!!
I painted the outside a pretty purple blue and planted it with bog plants. Pitcher plants and fly traps. Very cool. heidi
Heidi, got ahead of me, go girl. thats what I was going to say.
Not painted, but this is Heidis.
Would they be ok in full sun? I thought they would fry!
That is really cool looking! I had never thought about bogs in a container garden of that size. If you wanted to do a water pond you could plant lotus, tropical lilies or water lettuce and water hyacinth. They all like the water to be pretty warm. Let us know what you decide to do!
Now I grow Taters in mine, on a slope with rocks in the bottom, to make sure they are not wet, LOL best taters I ever had. YUMMMM
Okay, I have alot of crocosmia coming, that could look intresting. But I like the bog idea too. How do you set one up?
Need Heidi on that, she told my DH on how to do a large pot, not sure on a tub.
Hi There I plugged the whole some but there is a little opening for some drainage and filled it with peat moss and some clean sand. Not beach sand and make sure is is sopping wet. It can take a while to get the peat moss soaking. Then plant it. I have a lot of great sarreceneas and flytraps or evens some sun dews. Or you could Plant that big leaf petasities you liked in my yard. That would keep the soil moist and contained some. also many ideas. Go for it Heidi
Gordon, I think you'd love a bog garden-you like unusual plants so much that I can hardly imagine you doing anything other than a bog in that tub.
I think the shower pipe and shower head would be fun and quirky-esp if you could rig it to the hose or drip system to water the bog with it. Then, maybe grow a vine up it?
And, how big is that new bed? Maybe you could make that new bed a whole ton larger and wrap it around the tub? Kind of oval or teardrop, making the tub kind of a focal point?
Oh, Susy just love that idea, May dump my spuds and do that, paint it purple and put it by the trailer. "memo taken, and posted" LOL
Checked it today no sign of taters yet.
Okay! A bog garden it shall be! The hole is already almost plugged shut so thats done. Just need to find peat moss,sand, paint, and a trip to Dragonfly! I think I will paint it dark blue or maybe red. Or dark green, glad I am so set on a color!
Now I have to start researching bog plants!I know very little about them. Sounds like my search for wisteria all over again.I always start with a little thing and then it just takes off on me!
The garden is not planted, so I can move it to the center and plant around it.I like the tear drop shape, Sue, so I will go with that too! Give me a week and it'll be ready to plant.
Heidi, do you mix the sand and peatmoss together, or layer the sand first and then peatmoss?And how much soil?I'm way out in left feild on this one, but I like that! I guess after this it'll be a pond! lol
Keep me informed, Gordon LOL just loven it.
That is going to look great! I have to find a nice place for a bog garden. Do those types of plants like sun or shade?
That is a good question. I hope they like sun!
Gordon, may I suggest the crocosmia be planted in the bed at one end of the tub, and behind - I think it would look great as a partial background. The other thing you might want to consider is to place a heavy board or stepping stones under the feet to stop it from sinking down into the soil. I quite like the idea that the tub would then create a little shady moss garden underneath. Look forward to seeing this develop.
This message was edited May 6, 2008 4:17 PM
Gordon, I don't think it would look good in your garden. therefore you should give it to me. you could come visit it when I get it planted with bog plants. I've voting for Saracenia. good luck with it. Jim
uh-oh, bathtub envy.
Plant list for a bog garden:
http://www.ee.enr.state.nc.us/garden/bogplantlist.htm
Don't forget that carnivorous plants and frogs are not compatible with butterflies, so be sure to keep some nectar plants well away from the bog . . .
I mix the sand and peatmoss together. Mostly peat. How cool Full sun is great. Just keep em wet. So excited. Heidi
I hope I can get over there next weekend Heidi. That is as long as the tub doen't "dissapear" before then!
Laurie, that is a splended idea using the crocs to surround it. And had thought about the sinking tub problem, but enough lumber laying about to take care of that.
So it's going to be off center with tetrapanax and crinum groing behind with crocs around the side and front.And it is going to be red, my hot tub!
Inside, I have the sand(not beach sand!!) and the peatmoss all mixed together and soaking for a few days, now it is down to what goes in. Pitcher plants are a must. I don't really want flytraps, but a few flowers and a canna and maybe some black stem taro. I want it to folllow the flow of the tub real high at the front and gravitating down to the end.
That tub of yours is going to be very cool! Does anyone know how deep a bog garden has to be? I have a green fiberglass thing that is fairly shallow, probably about 8"-10" deep but several feet long and wide. I got a great deal on some spitting fish fountains and was going to make a reflecting pool with the fish but now I am really thinking about making it into a bog garden. Gordon, it is all your fault, I would really have been content with my fish fountains and water! LOL
Sorry! But it is a cool idea! I have been reading up on bogs and that sounds deep enough. Just got to make sure it stays wet!But some plants only grow that way, so if you want some pitcher plants, that's what you got to do.
Every project I have started out as something innocent, like wouldn't be nice to grow wisteria? Then it was shade plants are nice, hey I found a bowling ball, tropical co-op, plant swaps, etc.........
Wow - so much fun to watch your idea come together, Gordon!!!
Gordon, I have lots of Crocs, that need to be move, If you want some let me know. this is just one spot they are in, have lots more. LOL
gordon, I recommend that you do a little investigating in terms of watering your pitchers. My understanding is that they do not like water that has nutrients in it, or mineral content above 100 ppm. I use rain water and/or distilled water, even in the summer, to keep my bogs moist. They plants wouldn't die right away, but would not do well and then would deteriorate as the mineral content builds up in the growing medium. Also, I recommend you mix some pumice into your growing medium. It keeps it from being too heavy. They do better if the mix can get a little air around the roots. You can buy it by the bag at Fred Meyer in the indoor gardening section. Check out the carnivorous plant forum we have here on Dave's. There is a ton of info, and I think a good 'sticky' with a lot of information. I was pretty active on that forum for a good while when I was first getting into carnivorous plants. There are some very knowlegable folks there, Equilibrium being one of them. She has probably 2000 pitchers. Also, this is a good website:
http://cobraplant.com/index.php
FYI, I have my bog plants in my perennial bed. I've never lost a butterfly to them. Also, slugs like them as much as they like other things and never seem to get caught in the pitchers.
This message was edited May 9, 2008 9:50 PM
Pixydish, thank you for the link. I have added it to my favorites list.
Step 2 is done. Still have to get some sand and peat moss.
The tub is planted around with crocs and hen and chicks.
A diffrent view. Man is that thing heavy! Took three of us to put it in place. Once it is full, I would like to see someone try and take it!
Gordon - I keep expecting to see this thread with "empty" crossed out, & "now full" in its place!
Wow - I bet that was heavy. Probably made the decision where to site it lots easier. Anxious to see it later this summer.
I just went and got the sand and peat moss. I wonder if I should use tap water or get alot of distilled water to fill it. How much is it going to take? Then ther is still going to Heidi's to get plants. Going to Hostajim's next week and to the Naylor Creek sale, then swoop down to Dragonfly!
The tub is awesome! Love the color! Are those tetrapanax planted to the left? That would be a completely perfect combination for this feature.
Better opt for distilled water, then figure out how to do some collecting of rain water to tide you over the summer. Is your water from a well or it is city water? If it's city water you could call and find out what the mineral content is in PPM. Don't forget to mix in something to lighten the mix. You can use pumice, which is best, but you can also use vermiculite, which is cheaper. You could use perlite, but it floats and rises to the top and makes a big mess, so I don't recommend it. Maybe you have access to a larger quantity of distilled water through the restaurant? I have to buy mine in gallons.
Why that is tetrapanax on the left and a clematis bush on the right. I have cannas going behind it.Shoot , forgot the pumice and was staring right at it at the store last night. Should have put it together and it would have gotten rained on all night. Oh well! I have a week before I get plants for it.
oooooh a whole week...I don't think I could wait that long.
Gordon, they have a few pitcher plants at Wells. Do you want me to pick up anything for you? I am there about every other day at lunchtime. I could scout some stuff out that you like. Let me know. I'll be there Monday or Tuesday to check out some Trees & shrubs, so it's no problem.
Gordon ~ Love the tub! It's such a great color! My only concern is the crocs eating the hens and chicks (teehee). Love it...can't wait to see it finished!
Hey Kayte! Monday I work late, but Tuesday I can meet you around 1:30 or so.
I'll see if I can swing that, Gordon. I have meetings, but I may have to sneak out. I know that Chiropractor visits can only be had at 1:30ish, especially on Tuesdays.......
lol Yeah I could use one too! And more vines! I need alot of diffrent vines!! And fill the tub! That sounds funny!! lol Guess who took a med?
