I'm posting this here because the bog will definitely contain a nice variety of orchids in addition to the carnivorous plants, but if you mods think it belongs in off topic, so be it.
I just moved into a new house which has this on the property. It's an old stone foundation about 16' wide x 12' deep. Because my neighbor's house rests on one end of it, and because of a huge Forsythia I don't feel like digging out I'm going about 12' x 12'. I'm putting a 2' high block wall behind what's left of the front wall of the foundation which will set the overflow depth of the bog and another wall along the left side to provide a buffer between he bog and my neighbor's house. Backfilling that area will put what's left of the bush out of sight and mind. Once the walls are in I'll excavate out what I need to in order to bring the whole works down to grade. A LOT less digging than if it were on a flat!
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The pic doesn't show the slope well, but consider that the left side trench is pretty level from front to back. If I stand where it meets the front wall the top of the wall is about equal with the top of my shoe. When I stand where it meets the back wall the top of the wall is at ginker height
__________________
Be who you are and say what you think. Those who matter don't mind and those who mind don't matter.
Subrosa, this is really interesting, however it would be interesting too, to hear about your new property, see pictures, and how you came to move...it would connect all the wonderful tidbits you've already teased us with.