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County Extension Agent Ralph Davis looks over the finished waterless water feature. Master Gardeners and the A&M team are moving to the bench under the awning for some well-deserved rest. Photo: KCMGA.

Bog Garden Make Over Yields a Waterless Water Feature

County Extension Agent Ralph Davis looks over the finished waterless water feature. Master Gardeners and the A&M team are moving to the bench under the awning for some well-deserved rest. Photo: KCMGA.
County Extension Agent Ralph Davis looks over the finished waterless water feature. Master Gardeners and the A&M team are moving to the bench under the awning for some well-deserved rest. Photo: KCMGA.

After years of struggling to make the Bog Garden functional and attractive, Master Gardeners finally faced the fact that nothing short of extremely expensive French drains would mitigate the flooding problems we’d struggled with. The expense made that possible solution impossible, so we consulted with experts for help. We ask the Texas A&M Agrilife Dallas Water University team for help, and they came through with a detailed plan for a waterless feature that they hoped would solve the problem.

On the day of installation, Patrick Dickinson, Program Coordinator at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Education Center in Dallas, did a presentation explaining the design and how it would be installed. He and his team were on hand to direct and help with the installation. See how the work unfolded.

Master Gardeners split into two work groups. One group would build the new feature, while the second would plant the beds near the building that are associated with the design feature.

Building the Feature

The prepared creek bed is shown in the foreground, with the auxillary beds around it and in the background. Master Gardeners Marlene Ballard and Frances Holmes discuss the placement of plants in the side bed. Photo: KCMGA.
The prepared creek bed is shown in the foreground, with the auxillary beds around it and in the background. Master Gardeners Marlene Ballard and Frances Holmes discuss the placement of plants in the side bed. Photo: KCMGA.
MG Karen Sanders walks toward the bridge as Patrick Dickinson positions the liner where the glass pellets will be placed. MG Brad Ackerman gets stones to weight down the plastic. Photo: KCMGA.
MG Karen Sanders walks toward the bridge as Patrick Dickinson positions the liner where the glass pellets will be placed. MG Brad Ackerman gets stones to weight down the plastic. Photo: KCMGA.
MG Karen Sanders arranges stones in the area behind the bridge. Photo: KCMGA.
MG Karen Sanders arranges stones in the area behind the bridge. Photo: KCMGA.
Patrick Dickinson pours glass pellets in the end of the creek bed, while an A&M team member finished arranging stones near the bridge. Photo: KCMGA.
Patrick Dickinson pours glass pellets in the end of the creek bed, while an A&M team member finished arranging stones near the bridge. Photo: KCMGA.
An A&M team member and MG Brad Ackerman put the final touches on the area around the bridge. Photo: KCMGA.
An A&M team member and MG Brad Ackerman put the final touches on the area around the bridge. Photo: KCMGA.
Patrick Dickinson does a final bit of fixing around the bridge.
Patrick Dickinson does a final bit of fixing around the bridge.
MG Frnces Holmes wades in the waterless feature. Photo: KCMGA.
MG Frnces Holmes wades in the waterless feature. Photo: KCMGA.
Waterfall feature near the bridge. Photo: KCMGA.
Waterfall feature near the bridge. Photo: KCMGA.

Planting the Beds

With the pots positioned according to the bedding plan, Master Gardeners begin digging. Photo: KCMGA.
With the pots positioned according to the bedding plan, Master Gardeners begin digging. Photo: KCMGA.
Master Gardener Hilde Smith finished clearing the hole for one of the shrubs going into the side bed. Master Gardener Brad Ackerman can be seen in the background over her shoulder. Photo: KCMGA.
Master Gardener Hilde Smith finished clearing the hole for one of the shrubs going into the side bed. Master Gardener Brad Ackerman can be seen in the background over her shoulder. Photo: KCMGA.
Master Gardeners Sandy Stahlman, Nancy Bowman and Jim Burt install plants along the bank of the new waterless feature. Photo: KCMGA.
Master Gardeners Sandy Stahlman, Nancy Bowman and Jim Burt install plants along the bank of the new waterless feature. Photo: KCMGA.
The fully planted side bed. County Agent Ralph Davis and Master Gardener Nancy Bowman talk as Nancy waters the new plants. Photo: KCMGA.

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