I came here wanting to learn about a lotus bog too. I live in semi-desert and am digging 3' holes in the ground to add liner to hold water. Quite the opposite of what you're proposing.

What I've read about lotus is that they can be very invaisive unrestrained. They burrow down 4 feet or more into the mud to protect themselves against winter's cold. And, lotus 'move' as the parent root dies off and the babies spring up, the growth of the plant follows the direction the roots take.

That means the bog you plant today could be 20 yards away in a few years!

I don't know if the invaisiveness of the lotus poses a problem to your property in the future, or if there are any laws regarding planting them unrestrained. Laws might be a good thing to consider.

The only other issue I can possibly foresee in your situation is how will you maintain the water in the event of drought? I know some of the moist areas can and do dry up from time to time.

I sure envy you your climate, I've spent some time in South Carolina and I love it there!!

ga

GA,
I understand that Lotus are invasive. That's why I am putting them in a bog garden instead of my pond. Our water table here stays near the surface and damp all year long, even in the summer. I would still like to know how to combine lotus and a bog garden in a single spot. I plan to dig a garden about 12 ft X 5 ft that is deeper at the lotus end (3 ft?). Could sure use some advice if anyone has done this! Any pictures?? Help!

Maybe landscaping cloth liner? It's permeable but will still afford some restraint of spread?

ga