Guide on Crafting a Mesmerizing Lunar Garden, Blooming Spectacularly Under Moonlight
Chillin' in Your Evenin' Garden
Got a late-night hankerin' for some garden lovin'? Worry not, for your plants ain't just for morning glories anymore. Here's how to set up the perfect evening garden, where delphiniums and Petunias won't judge you for belting out a ballad under the stars.
Plant an After-Hours Garden
Transform your backyard into a nighttime haven, filled with plants that'll bloom under the moonlight.
Spot Selection
Before you set up shop, take a gander at the moon's path for a few nights and pick a place least obstructed by trees and shadows. It's all about peace and quiet, so make sure it's far from traffic noise and meddling neighbors.
Picking Flowers and Foliage
For maximum glow, go for a palette of pale petals and foliage. Nothing says "good night" quite like whites, pastels, chartreuse, and silver gray plants and flowers. These plants might be wan under the sun's glare, but they truly shine during dusk and the nighttime hours.
Tall plants like cleome provide drama and a sense of depth, while fragrant nicotiana (flowering tobacco) fills the air with a sweet aroma once the sun goes down. The petunia you've come to know and love takes on a whole new life in the evening hours, with 'White Wave' making quite the statement with its continuous blooms.
Some plants, like angels' trumpets, only release their scent after dark and attract moths as pollinators. Sweet alyssum boasts masses of tiny white flowers that truly catch the eye in the moonlight.
Setting Up
Plant the front of the garden with low ground covers, use medium-height plants in the middle, and anchor the back with taller plants. Make sure each plant has the necessary soil and sunlight to thrive during the day, so they can work their magic at night.
Container Garden
Don't have much space for a traditional garden? No problem. A nighttime container garden can still pack a punch. Get a mix of plants with different textures and heights to create visual interest.
Location, Location, Location
Place your containers around your patio, deck, walkway, or even in a corner of your lawn. Feel free to repurpose vessels for containers, like an old bucket.
Plant Choices
Use plants suitable for container gardening, like cleome or green-and-white caladium. Designate one plant to be the star of the show, perhaps a vanilla-scented white heliotrope.
Installation
Make sure to vary the heights of the plants to offer a mix of textures and interests. Go for a mix of attractive, diverse containers. Dark-colored pots accentuate plant colors at night and make the blooms look as if they're floating.
Additional Light Sources
Enhance your evening garden with candles, path lights, lanterns, or twinkly lights to help illuminate the pale plant colors when the moon doesn't shine. Keep the light soft and diffused to mimic the moon's subtle glow.
Consider using solar-powered lights for an environmentally-friendly and cost-effective way to light up the night. A small recirculating fountain or water feature will help mask traffic noise and provide an ambient sound. Crickets will do, too.
So grab a lawn chair, open up a cold one, and enjoy the heavenly peace of your glowing, after-hours garden. You've earned it.
[1] Connelly, Anna. "How to Plant a Fragrant Garden." Fine Gardening, 5 Aug. 2019, www.finegardening.com/article/how-to-plant-a-fragrant-garden.
[2] Hasse, Tricia. "Container Gardens for Shade." Better Homes & Gardens, 25 June 2018, www.bhg.com/gardening/ containers/container-gardens-shade/.
[3] LaFranier, Laarni. "Evening Primrose: Beauty Sleep for Your Garden." Earth911, 8 Apr. 2020, earth911.com/gardening/planting/evening-primrose-beauty-sleep-for-your-garden/.
[4] "Moonlight Caladium." Proven Winners, www.provenwinners.com/plants/caladium.cfm#moonlightjuliet.
[5] Petunia 'White Wave.' Fine Gardening, www.finegardening.com/article/petunia-white-wave.
Enrichment Data
Plant Choices:- White or Light-Colored Flowers: These are ideal for a moonlit garden as they reflect moonlight beautifully. Consider plants like evening primrose, hydrangea, and phlox.- Reflective Foliage: Plants like Moonlight Caladium have leaves that appear to glow, adding a magical touch to your garden.- Pale and Pastel-Colored Plants: These include flowers in shades of chartreuse, silver gray, and pastels, which become more vibrant under moonlight.- Fragrant Plants: Incorporate fragrant plants like jasmine or plants with sweet, intoxicating fragrances to enhance the sensory experience.
- To create a breathtaking evening garden, consider planting white delphiniums, petsunias and other pastel-colored plants that shine under the moonlight.
- For a visually interesting container garden, choose plants like cleome or Moonlight Caladium with reflective foliage, adding a magical touch to your nighttime garden.
- To attract nocturnal pollinators, opt for plants like angels' trumpets or sweet alyssum, which release their scent after dark.
- With a mix of tall, medium, and low-growing plants, design a layout that offers depth and visual interest for your outdoor gardening project.
- Achieve a harmonious lifestyle by enjoying your beautiful evening garden on your birthday or simply any night of the week, accompanied by the gentle sounds of crickets and the soft glow of candles or twinkly lights.
