Garden Pool at www.japanese-home-gardens.com

If you have young children or pets, it may be better to build a raised pool. Do not have a pool with an overhanging rim with deep water below. Instead have a shallow "beach" of pebbles in a more natural-looking pool; in a formal edged pool, probably the easiest solution is to place bricks or blocks near the edge just below the surface of the water to form steps. The bog garden should be constructed at the same time as the pool, using one large piece of liner for both features.

Coarse sand is needed for the bottom of the terrarium. As acid soil is required to top sand, obtain sediment from bottom of marsh or, if marsh is not available, from bottom of garden pool. If neither marsh nor pool is available, use ordinary garden soil, but habitat will remain established for short time only.

Coarse sand is needed for the bottom of the terrarium. As acid soil is required to top sand, obtain sediment from bottom of marsh or, if marsh is not available, from bottom of garden pool. If neither marsh nor pool is available, use ordinary garden soil, but habitat will remain established for short time only. Gently pull small plants, which adjust better to indoor temperature than large specimens, from marsh sediment.