In The Night Garden
Did you know you can give your garden a whole extra dimension if you consider what it offers during the night? It may sound strange, but stick with me…
Beautiful colour schemes and a variation of foliage textures are vital in your garden design by day however when the sun goes down, these can be almost completely lost in the darkness. Your design considerations will need to take a very different approach when planning a night garden as you’ll be including elements for all five senses to truly maximise your space.
If I’m working on a project where the brief includes how much the homeowners love entertaining their friends throughout the summer months, I’ll make sure to include plants that shine just as brightly in the evening as well as during the day.
I often start out with thoughts of colour. Plants with white flowers are a definite go-to for a night garden and will be top of my list. As the sun is going down and the moon is coming out, white can still be seen when most other flower colours have disappeared into the darkness. Achillea ptarmica ‘The Pearl’ is heavily featured in my own garden for this reason, as the small white flowers seem to hover delicately amongst the borders.
Achillea ptarmica ‘The Pearl’
Plants with silver foliage are also great choices as the whole plant will be easily seen in dim light. For an added bonus, I like to select silver plants with furry foliage where possible. When you spot a Stachys byzantina (aka lambs ears) in the light of the moon you simply can’t help yourself but reach out and give it a stroke, bringing in that extra sensory element of touch into your night garden.
Speaking of extra sensory elements, don’t forget your sense of smell. There are plants whose scent strengthens when the sun goes down, such as Cestrum nocturnum (night blooming Jasmine). Planting some of these near your evening terrace area will elevate the evening atmosphere as the scent will waft around your friends whilst chatting under the twinkling starlight.
If your drink of choice is a cocktail or two, then herbs are a magnificent addition to your planting scheme. Plant some herbs near your chosen evening drinks spot, selecting those that compliment your favourite drinks, so you can pick sprigs straight off the plant and drop them into your pitcher of margaritas.
The magic of your night garden isn’t only in your planting selections. Being mindful of your evening lighting can elevate your experience to the next level. When relaxing in your garden, you don’t want to feel like you’re sat in a football stadium with floodlights glaring at you. Use lighting that sets the right mood for your outdoor space, perhaps a few spotlights on key feature trees or festoon lighting draped under your pergola. If possible, only have your garden lighting on when you need it, as your garden wildlife will really appreciate your consideration. Your garden insects, bats, birds and hedgehogs can be really thrown off by all night lighting so when it’s time to go inside give a thought to turning them off.
Creating an oasis of calm in a night garden can be hugely enhanced by the sounds around you. Your tranquillity may be impaired if you’re surrounded by more than just the peaceful quiet of a summers evening. There’s a relatively simple fix for this, by incorporating water into your garden. A small bubbling water feature, gently sparkling nearby will cover any unwanted noise and create a relaxing environment for your evening chill out.
As those warm summers evenings approach, give a little thought to what changes you could implement now to enhance your garden experience later. You’ll be thanking yourself over and over again for taking your outdoor space to the next level this year and wish you’d done it sooner.