Plant a Night Garden

By transforming your flower garden into a magical nighttime wonderland, you can get the most out of not just the summer days, but the nights as well. Night gardens are an easy way to delight the senses and indulge in your garden in an entirely different fashion. What better way to enjoy a summer night than by relaxing outside under the stars, as the moonlight’s soft glow illuminates leaves and petals and the heavy scents of night blooming flowers compliment the delicate evening sounds of nature. You can easily transform any garden space into a night garden by adding a few select plants and accessories. Read on to learn how to plant a night garden in 4 easy steps.

Location Choose an area where you can relax and enjoy your night garden, such as on a patio, garden path or near a water feature. Be sure to place comfortable outdoor seating close by. Choose Flowers to Enhance the Senses Incorporate white and pale flowers in the night garden area. If you do not have many light flowers in your existing garden, you can easily achieve the effect by adding potted flowers and plants such as jasmine, petunias and white roses. Don’t forget to include plants with silvery leaves and flowers, such as lamb’s ear, to catch the moonlight and complement the other light-colored flowers. Look for night blooming plants, such as angel trumpets, which release an intoxicating perfume in to the evening air to further add to the ambiance. Lighting Use subtle and soft lighting such as tiny white Christmas lights on strings or the smaller, newly introduced “Fairy Lights” which are specially designed for gardens. Weave strings of lights around a garden arbor, trellis, potting shed, statue, small tree or near a water feature to draw the eye to a focal point and illuminate surrounding areas and walkways or consider strategically placed solar lights for a quick and easy, cord-free light source. Whenever possible, use tea lights, lanterns and candles when outside – just be sure to extinguish them when you leave and never leave candles or lanterns unattended. Sound A delicate wind chime placed in a nearby tree or suspended from an arbor will add gentle sounds to evening breezes, and don’t forget to utilize the relaxing sound of trickling water. A small fountain or table top water feature can further enhance the mood of a night garden by evoking memories of a babbling brook or trickling stream. Night Garden Flowers Alyssum Baby’s breath Snowdrops White geranium Lily of the Valley White hydrangea White roses Moonflower White petunia Angel’s trumpet Daisy Lamb’s ear

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