At Home Living: Creating evening ambiance in the garden

Ambiance The special atmosphere or mood created by a particular environment. Ambiance is what makes us feel like we belong or want to remain in a particular space. Think of cozy, romantic restaurants with candles, alcoves of fancy old hotels, warm rock fireplaces and overstuffed chairs with low lighting. Night lighting in you garden can create a similar ambiance and its simpler and more affordable than you think.

Night lighting can do several things. It can extend the time you can spend in your garden and enhance the setting. It can address safety issues for you and guests walking through the yard. Security can be handled in an aesthetically pleasing manner and be appropriate to the site. Lighting can bring special interest to specimen plants, sculptures, and ponds while adding depth, and interest to your creation.

Lights and shadows are always attention getters. To achieve your goals for lighting take time to do a little research and planning. Drive through nice neighborhoods likely to have night lighting. Make notes of what catches your eye. Do you like the up-lighting illuminating a beautiful tree trunk? What about the low lights guiding you up the walk to the front door? Is there a light on or in the fountain or pond?

Also, make a note of what doesnt work, like harsh lights on a blank wall (you dont want to look like funeral home or model home). Flood lights detract from the ambiance. Are there glaring lights in the shrubs? Can you actually see the light bulbs? Lights should not shine into the windows of the home. Too many lights along a path can make it look like a runway. Unbalanced lighting will divide rather than unite a garden. Avoid high contrast ratios hot spots of bright light surrounded by large dark areas. Flooding the whole garden with light creates an artificial atmosphere and washes out the moonlight and night sky.

Yard lighting used to be solely electric. Today there are a number of solar powered lights that are making a big splash in the market. They are easy to install with no wiring and have no electric bill. It is any easy chore that almost anyone can do.

Guidelines

1. Light the pathways even if they are simple routes only you use. You deserve enjoyment too. Short or tall stake lighting is available for this; just press them into the ground.

2. Light stairs. Stick lights can be laid along the step, string lights (50 to 100 LED lights inside a PVC tube that is designed to hold up against the elements.) can be wrapped on the railing or laid along the step, stakes work well here also.

3. Accent the most dramatic trees in the garden with solar spot lights. Illuminating the trunk and branches from below can add enough glow that the garden can be navigated safely at night.

4. Some decorative light fixtures can add style when used with moderation.

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At Home Living: Creating evening ambiance in the garden