For those of us who do the daily 9 to 5 grind, we’ll be spending most of our time in the garden in the evenings after work. There are some beautiful and delicate flowers that come to life in the evenings, releasing their fragrances as well as having their blooms enhanced by the glow of the moon.
Often referred to as ‘Moon Gardens’, gardens designed to come alive once the sun goes down are the perfect place to enjoy a few peaceful moments after a busy day. With a little well-curated scented planting around a patio or seating area, plus the introduction of some lighting and white flowers to your field of view, you too can transform your outside space into a night-time paradise.
Night-scented stock, Dianthus and Evening Primrose are great choices, as they release their scent once the sun has gone down in order to attract nocturnal pollinators such as moths. Colours that work best in moon gardens are white, cream, grey and silvery blue, as these are the most visible under moonlight. Fatsia Japonica ‘Spiders Web’ not only glows come dusk, but its star shaped leaves mimic the sky above on clear nights. Variegated hostas, such as Francee and Patriot, will appear to have glowing edges and stripes which creates a dramatic effect.
If you’re looking for more than just a few twinkling white flowers at night-time, white lobelia allows for a frothy show of ground cover. You can even use white gravel or pebbles amongst your planting or to fill a garden path (this will also make it easier to safely meander through your garden in the evenings).
Make things even more magical with ambient solar lighting. Fairy lights can be draped over a patio seating area or woven along your fence, but resist the temptation to string them around trees – you’ll be unlikely to get an effective charge from the sun if the solar panel is shaded by the tree’s canopy. Complete the sensory experience with a water feature; the gentle trickle of water will further heighten the relaxing atmosphere… the perfect antidote to a long day at work.