Share your bog-building experience please

I want to build a bog and have been reading up online. I found this site which sounds like it would work for what I want. http://www.bbg.org/gar2/topics/design/handbooks/watergarden/8.html

I also found this thread on Dave's which sounds like it comes from a resident expert. http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/461439/

One of the biggest differences between the two methods is what they use to fill the hole again. I like that the first one uses some of the soil that originally came out. What will I do with the soil that comes out if I don't put it back? I like that the second link is one of our own that appears to know what he is doing and has been successful to boot.

Has anyone used one or the other of these methods? Do you have problems or successes to share?

I also have a water question. Bogman states to use only rainwater, distilled water, or dehumidifier water. I assume that water from the hydrant in back is considered tap water? If so, I may have a watering problem during dry weather. Has anyone solved that problem? Thanks for your sharing!

Last year I put in a bog garden to grow lotus in. I found the flatest spot in the yard with full sun. Laid a tarp on the ground for all the dirt that was dug out (thk goodness my daughter helped) I lined it with a pond liner. Mine went down 3 1/2 ft. Didn't want the lotus to freeze.
I put all the soil back in the hole that I dug out...minus the stones, rusty beer cans, nails,
and other stuff that was dug out. Added a bag of composted manure. Filled it with water and planted the lotus.
Bogman may only be using rainwater, distilled water or dehumidifier water, because he might be growing carnivorous plants in his bog.
I use well water. Don't know about water from a hydrant.
This pic is from late spring. I was thrilled to see the lotus survive.

After the liner was in and the hole refilled, I place a 4" x 4" piece of wood all around the bog. Then put the liner over that to keep any run off from getting into the bog.

I did start out to make a bog/ its just kept growing. I used the dirt/clay to raise the sides of the hole to slope away from the pool to keep the sides from cave in. mine sits under a pine n oak, which I intend to chop down the pine, I have to keep on pulling out the massive amts of leaves n needles, so I didnt refill with dirt. My pond lillies are in coco fibre pots, n i use upside down milk crates to raise other plants above water line. Weather isnt as severe in our winters/ maybe 3 days as max cold spells, we did see snow this past winter- 10-12 flakes that never reached the ground. peat moss can add to the dirt if you want to naturally(slowly) change water ph. etc. some water cos add chloramines, not chlorines to water systems. chlorine dissipates fairly rapidly, chloramines do not. No water co I know of in this area cares abt the amts of naturally occuring salt in your water, but many do maintain records that sho the amts found when water is tested/ these maybe why his recommendations on water types.

Hi McGlory, yes, bogman was talking about rain water for carnivorous plants. I started one this spring. Things are growing, the true test will be next spring. Hopefully they survive! I also made a lotus pond like crazy4brugs. It is going crazy, covered my 4 foot circle already. Three leaves are standing up. The others are on the water, like lilies.
My other experiment with a bog isn't going too well. I got a formed pond liner at a garage sale and sank it, stabbed a bunch of holes in it, filled it with the soil I dug out, compost and a little sphagnum peat moss. It got flooded with all the rain, now it's hard when it gets a little dry. Going to try mulching it and see if that helps.
When I dug my carnivorous bog, I made a little berm out of the dirt and threw the rest on my garden.
Good luck with yours...