This page was last updated on: April 1, 2011

Jesse H. Jones Park & Nature Center’s

Carnivorous Plant Bog Project

The deepening of the pond was begun in December 2001, while park attendance was low and plants were dormant. A backhoe was used to remove multiple dump truck loads of gooey muck, along with cattails and other undesirable plants. The backhoe was also used to pack the clay that comprised the bottom of the now four foot deep lower pond, preventing any leaking. No plastic liner is used in the lower pond.

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Once this was accomplished, a plastic retainer wall was put up to allow the lowest portion of the pond to be filled in with a sand and peat mixture. This mix supplies the proper high acid, low nutrient levels that most CPs require. The wall was not high enough to separate this area from the rest of the pond, but instead allows the pond to filter water through this area on its way out of the lower end.

The original pond had not been fenced in, since it was desirable to let people walk right up to the edge of the

pond and see what animals might be calling the pond home. With the addition of the CPs, the need for a fence bordering the CP area was realized, and a short fence was built. This also allowed for the development of interpretive signs that could be attached to the tops of the fence posts! This work was completed by the end of January, 2002

An additional problem was eventually noticed: the frequent heavy rains were causing much of the sand-peat mix to be washed away. To prevent this, a six-inch diameter PVC pipe was eventually added to allow drainage without this erosion.