This manmade bog garden at Finnerty Gardens has a lushness and diversity of plants that would not have been possible without the constructing of a bog. In the background is wonderful specimen of Sambucus nigra ' Guicho Purple ' and ( Black Bamboo ( Phyllostachys nigra ) combined with the heritage rhododendrons. In the bog area is petasites with its giant round leaves, a dark leafed ligularia, Royal Fern (Osmunda regalis ), blue Iris siberica ‘Silver Edge'and yellow Iris pseudacorus , pink Bee's Candelabra Primroses (Primula beesiana) while the marginal plantings include hosta with Pink Bistort or Persicaria (Polygonium) bisorta ‘Superba'at the edge.
The bog can certainly be used to interpret the Tropical Look while at the same time dealing with poorly draining sites and as a method of water conservation. One can see why the long-standing British gardening tradition of making bog gardens has remained popular as we go into 2005.