A garden is a garden. If it’s there, it’s there in the daytime, and there at night. But as beautiful as a garden can be during the day, once it’s dark outside, the garden simply fades into the shadows. If you’re a person who enjoys entertaining in the garden, having a late-night glass of wine outside, and otherwise spending time in the garden after dark, you might find that your garden just isn’t as beautiful as it could be. Give it a make-over. Here are a few tips for creating a garden that shimmers in the moonlight while inviting you amongst the flowers after dark.
Green. It’s a color that is most definitely found in a flower garden. But when there are lots of green hues in your garden the whole thing can fade into the shadows when the sun goes down. Deep purple is another such color. You need lighter colors if you want to create a moonlit garden. Flowers which are white, silver, light pink, or even yellow, are great choices when you give your garden a make-over. These light colors capture moonlight yet still look fabulous during the day. Some plants for consideration include licorice, white verbena, hosta and maiden grass.
Selecting flowers and plants which are light in color will offer visual appeal and flowers that open up or bloom at night offer another beautiful element. Evening primrose, night phlox, angel’s trumpet, and climbing hydrangea are just a few of the choices you have for flowers are especially beautiful after the sun goes down.
Flowers with visual appeal in the moonlight are only one consideration. A popular reason why some people enjoy their gardens so much is the aroma. Plants which are especially fragrant at night can enhance your moonlight garden experience. Some good choices include lavender, gardenia, tuberose and moonflower.
There are other elements you can add to create the perfect moonlit garden. A table and benches or chairs can be painted or purchased in a light color so that they stand out amongst the flowers. You can also make small, white stepping stones, or white gravel pathways, as a guided route through the garden.
Sometimes there simply is no moonlight or more light is needed for entertaining in the garden. For these times, there are many lighting options you can use. Tiki torches, citronella candles, flood lights, or even strands of Christmas lights, can offer that extra bit of glow that’s needed.
If you’re a person who loves your garden – and even more so at night – you can easily turn that space into a lovely moonlit garden. By selecting plants with light colors, plants which are most fragrant at night, and flowers that bloom in dark, you can have the very garden of your dreams.