Back to the update... I installed the drainage layer:
The product is a baked clay substrate designed for athletic field drainage:
Note my two little depressions which I hope will be little pools for breeding:
Top view:
If you recall the mockup of the branches, I had to figure out how to get them to stay upright, resembling small dead shrubs for epiphytic growth. I broke apart some lava rock, and chipped it to make it sit flat and have a seating area for the branch:
I cut some screen mesh to size, this was to cover the drainage layer and keep the soil layer separated. I then placed the branches how I wanted them, and siliconed them to the lava rock pieces. Here's the new mockup with the "nursery log" in place:
Top view:
After the silicone cured, I cut the mesh to place the rocks into the drainage layer:
Top view:
Next step was to prepare the "nursery log". I plan to cover the log in mosses, but also wanted it to appear as though it has decayed enough to allow plant growth. So I drilled out some planting holes:
