Re: Books and Bog Gardens

John Taylor [The Banshee] (rphjt@minyos.xx.rmit.OZ.AU)
Thu, 2 Jul 92 20:54:26 +0000

>I just received 1 of the CP books that I ordered.
>Carnivorous plants - Care and Cultivation -Marc Lecoufle
>Good starter book with Beautiful color plates.
>I also ordered only the book by Adrian Slack, I don't know how good that is.

I have both of Adrian Slack's books - both are very good. "Carnivorous Plants"
gives good descriptions of the more common species and fairly detailed growing
instructions. "Insect-Eating Plants & How to Grow Them" gives much more brief
descriptions and instructions, but makes up for it by covering many species
and giving lots of color photographs.

>p.s. I am thinking about building a bog garden in the backyard,
> has anyone tried that?

We built an island-type bog in a small 3x3' (or so) fibreglass "tub" (which
was actually a mould used in the construction of the "new" Parliment House
in Canberra! One of our uncles picked up a few for plant tubs.) The plants
grow pretty well in our climate, but perhaps the best advice I could give is
that you must not underestimate the amount of peat moss it takes to fill a
bog! Also, it would be better to make a much larger (but fairly shallow - say
12" deep) rather than a small, deep one like ours - it will look much more
impressive. Adrian Slack details a few designs and construction methods in
his second book (IEP&HTGT).

Good Luck!