Gardening into the night

My husband and I both work long hours in demanding environments. At the end of each day there’s nothing so relaxing as the moments we spend in our garden. The summer months of extended daylight enable us to enjoy the visual beauty of our shrubs, trees, and flowers. As the sun recedes, we find ourselves reluctant to retreat from our oasis of calm. So we frequently extend our stay beneath the moonlight and stars. This is the quietest reverie of subtle shapes and hidden dreams. Our senses are indulged by a myriad of tiny blossoms and their subtle perfumes which float in the breeze. We have friends who appreciate similar moments and have developed their own strategies for evening display. Here are some useful ideas for establishing a night garden.

White and beige coloured gravels reflect the lowest light levels and provide an exciting contrast to surrounding shrubs and ornamentals with dense opaque foliage.

Water features contribute to a peaceful mood and their reflective surfaces will illuminate surrounding areas.

To improve evening visibility, earthenware pots can be gloss varnished while wooden garden furniture and ironwork will benefit from white or cream toned paint.

To increase the wow factor after dark, choose shrubs with white flowers and shiny foliage. By focusing on a variety of plants with these characteristics, the evening display will encompass a range of silvery and soft charcoal hues.

Ask your nursery about plants like Angel’s Trumpet and Jasmine, which flower at night.

For calming and restorative energy, include some traditional aromatic herbs like rosemary, lavender, ylang ylang, and sage.

Make sure you have ready access to good music and other comforts like a warm blanket, and a delicious pot of herbal tea.