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Plants adapted to boggy soils are likely to be shallow-rooted like theelm, and they are able to withstand a soil condition which is poorlyaerated and almost invariably acid. In fact, a pond full of alkaline orlimy water will generally be found practically devoid of plant life,while in an acid pond plants thrive so that they gradually displacethe water as in sphagnum bogs, which were open ponds at one timebut have lost that character through the excessive growth of plants.In a true bog there is practically no free drainage except during thespring thaw or flood time. Plants adapted to bog gardens are called bog plants. Perhaps themost prominent of these perennials are the different varieties of thelady-slipper and the pitcher plant. One of the most essential thingsfor the success of bog garden plants is to have a moist condition whichdoes not vary to any marked degree. It is much better to have theground surrounding the roots of these plants over-saturated than tohave the degree of moisture become too much depleted, as the watertable throughout the entire area of the bog garden should be main-tained at a constant level and at the same time the water should not beallowed to become stagnant. If the area which is being developed as abog garden does -not naturally possess a growth of certain plants whichone knows to be indigenous to bog areas then investigation should be |
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