Light in the Garden

As gardeners we think of light in terms of full sun, part sun and the shade our plants need to grow. We also need to think about light in terms of how it impacts the colors and beauty of our gardens.

Take some time to observe how light affects your landscape throughout the day and year round. Backlighting through ornamental grass seedheads and cacti needles at sunrise or sunset will make them just glow.

Midday sun can overpower or wash out the more subtle colors in your landscape. You may notice professional photographers avoid shooting pictures midday and prefer overcast days. Side lighting highlights one side of the plant while casting the rest into shadows. And overhead lighting brightens the tops of plants while the base disappears in the dark.

Design your gardens and place your furniture to get the best view of the naturally lit landscape. And don’t forget about the views from indoors looking out.

A bit more information: And don’t forget about how light impacts the views from indoors looking out into the landscape. Extend your use and enjoyment of outdoor living space by adding a bit of night lighting. A couple of small table lamps may be all you need for reading or enjoying another person’s company on a small balcony. Solar lights along a pathway can make it more inviting and easier to navigate your landscape at night. And uplighting plants can accentuate their form and texture year round.