A moonlight garden adds a sense of wonder to nighttime outdoor living. Garden interest from dusk throughout the night sky until dawn can turn a moonlight stroll, outdoor dining experience or nighttime swim into a magical or mysterious evening.
Moonlight gardens focus on plants that showcase blooms, textures and silhouettes from dusk throughout the moonlight hours. They don’t necessarily include only plants that bloom at nighttime but can include foliage that make the flowers stand out. Typically, white or light colored flowering plants stand out better under a moonlit sky. So including dark foliage as a backdrop for these white night bloomers will only increase their impact. Yet, dark foliage is not a requirement. Leaves that are frosty or silvery in the daytime like Lambs Ear or Dusty Miller will glimmer under the moonlight and offer that extra shimmer. That twinkle is what helps to turn your garden into a magical oasis.
Natchez Crape Myrtles, Limelight Hydrangeas and Viburnum ‘Snowball’ can provide a great backdrop for lower growing plants such as White Impatiens, Hosta, and Japanese Painted Ferns. Some other great plant selections for a Raleigh moonlight garden include Abelia “Radiance’, Guara, and Four O’Clocks.
Water features are also a great addition because they reflect light and are a good way to disperse the moonlight around the garden. Garden objects such as glass globes can have the same effect, and a garden pond that includes night blooming water lilies lends that extra bit of wonder to the landscape.
Filling the nighttime air with fragrance contributes to creating a peaceful atmosphere. For instance, a whiff of sweet smelling Confederate Jasmine or Gardenia that tantalizes our senses can create a feeling of calm and relaxation. Fragrance can also evoke good memories such as those from childhood or it can remind us of a special vacation spot. It allows us to escape from the daily stresses, if only for a short time. White shrub roses like ‘Iceberg’ pack a pleasantly powerful scent and Garden Phlox ‘David’ will also deliver a fragrant treat.
We can design and install a moonlight garden for your Raleigh garden or landscape. Call us at 919-844-3441 or fill out the contact form below.
