Georgia Magazine - October 2011 - (Page 32)

f M Along a moonlit path Creating a nighttime garden By Lynn CouLter COurteSy AurOrA ost of us spend time in our flower gardens during the day, weeding, watering and enjoying whatever is blooming. But if you work inside all day, you may not get home until the sun is setting and the yard is filled with shadows. Instead of missing out, why not design at least part of your garden to enjoy at night? The evening hours are cooler and quieter, and while you may not be able to see as much detail after dark, plants and other elements can still make your nighttime garden a great place to visit. Many home and garden centers now offer solar-powered lights, and when hidden under the trumpet-shaped blooms of calla lilies, make a striking impression in a dark garden. fATurn on the lightsfor the evegarden designed ning will probably need some soft, supplemental lighting, but avoid big floodlights and other harsh lights. You want to enhance the natural light, not make your garden look like Alcatraz. If you’re on a budget, drape strings of twinkling, white patio lights in your trees and bushes. Outdoor Christmas lights will do fine. For a romantic touch, use lights shaped like little stars. Add low-voltage or solar-powered lamps to trails or paths. If you plan to do a lot of walking through the garden, look for the kind with fA white-and-silver color scheme Gardenias are traditional Southern shrubs, with creamy white flowers and glossy leaves. Their fragrance is especially rich at night. Use them in your summer garden to catch and reflect natural light. The easiest way to begin is with flowers and foliage that catch and reflect available light. Look for plants with white, cream-colored, or silvery leaves and blooms, and use them in masses to help them stand out. Other colors won’t be a big concern in a moonlit garden, so focus on plants COurteSy SOji with interesting forms and textures instead. Butterfly bush Buddleia davidii ‘Alba’ makes a dramatic backdrop, with long, arching wands of light-colored flowers. Fragrant snowball bush, Viburnum x carlcephalum, is another good pick, with clusters of luminous white pom-poms. Oakleaf hydrangea H. quercifolia spreads vigorously and produces majestic blooms that start out white. Other annuals, bulbs, vines and perennials will lighten up your nighttime look. Try ‘Iceberg,’ a white rose that can handle Georgia’s hot, humid summers. ‘White Swan’ Echinacea coneflowers, creamy-white marigolds and daisies like Leucanthemum x superbum ‘Becky’ are other good choices. Lambs’ ears, Artemisia and licorice plant add a dusting of silver and gray to beds and borders. Lynn COuLter Other white flowers and light foliage for night gardens: Dusty miller Sweet alyssum Lilies of the valley Candytuft Phlox Dahlias Sweet autumn clematis White daffodils, tulips and narcissus ‘Casa Blanca’ Oriental lilies ‘Apple blossom’ nicotiana These outdoor solar paper lanterns are great for evening parties. 32 web exclusive Discover the “Georgia Gold Medal Plant of the Month” on page 38B of the October 2011 issue, online at www.georgiamagazine.org. web exclusive GEORGIA MAGAZINE More online at www.georgiamagazine.org http://www.georgiamagazine.org http://www.georgiamagazine.org http://www.georgiamagazine.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Georgia Magazine - October 2011

Georgia Magazine - October 2011
Contents
Viewpoint
Mailbox
Picture This?
Georgia News
Calendar of Events
Currents
Georgia's Energy Outlook
Naturally Florida
Florida Destinations
2011 Reader's Choice Awards
Other Top Picks in Our Readers’ Choice Contest
Around Georgia
My Georgia
Georgia Gardens
Georgia Cooks
Snapshot
More Snapshot Submissions
Gardens Plant of the Month; Liberty Notes
More on Georgia’s Energy Outlook
Energy-Efficiency Tips
More Great Recipes

Georgia Magazine - October 2011