With the technology available today, there is so much that can be done with lights to help extend your garden season well into the fall. Above: left, using the pots themselves as lights is a creative approach, but more conventional lighting plans, as in the two patios above, can also be very effective.
Opposite: Uplighting and downlighting trees creates a magical aura in the evening and nighttime garden.
somewhere where it is often cloudy or very shady. Solar systems need ample sunlight to recharge batteries each day – basically the same number of hours of input as output. The advantage is that you don't have
any wiring to worry about. You can place these lights wherever you like. Today’s energy-efficient LED lights
use a lot less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs, last 25 times longer and have twice the lifespan of fluores- cents. However, they cost more up front. LED lights also change the quality of
light. They send light in only one direc- tion instead of scattering it. There are many sophisticated spot
lighting systems available today with a capacity to do much more than the old scatted light systems. You can now get
www.localgardener.net
fixtures that will wash a wall with light or another that will direct the light to focus on a tree or fountain. There are ground light fixtures that will add a pop of light across a wide expanse, or walk- way lights to illuminate steps or paths or even garden beds. You can always use a mixture of elec-
trical and solar lighting for maximum flexibility.
Other lighting ideas A very effective but simple way to add
light to a garden party is to put a light- ing fixture under a table covered by a full length table cloth. The table will appear to glow in the night. To light your garden party, candles
are always a welcome choice. The trick is to keep them from blowing out. Use a hurricane vase and set the candles inside. You can mute the light by covering
the vase with tissue paper to create a glowing, ambient light. There are virtually hundreds of candle
fixtures to choose from, many of them enclosed in glass to keep them burning throughout the evening hours. Glass candle holders set adrift in the
pool (weighted to keep them in place so they won’t all drift to the sides), are much more romantic than electric light- ing. A similar approach can be used with bird baths and small water features. Tiki torches are still popular, adding
a special magic to an evening gathering (you can also get solar versions). These are just a few ideas to get
you thinking about lighting up your evenings in the garden. Light will keep you out there much longer and expand the garden enjoyment time during the short summers we have. V
SUMMER 2013 • 23
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