Spring is right around the corner although it might not feel that way with some of the snowstorms people are experiencing across the U.S. But, it won’t be long until we can get back into our gardens and enjoy the moist feel of fresh potting soil sifting through our fingers as we plant fresh seeds and plants.
When is your favorite time to garden? What’s your favorite time to sit and enjoy your garden? Probably those people who follow Ben Franklin’s advice enjoy gardening after they rise early. Early morning gardening is also good to avoid the mid-day sun as summer really kicks into gear.
When we think about our gardens, we generally think about working on them and enjoying them an experience that can really only mostly be enjoyed during the daytime. But, garden lighting is a great way to enjoy relaxing and savoring your beautiful oasis in the evening hours.
When selecting garden lighting fixtures, one of the primary factors is the height of the items you want to illuminate. Are you illuminating low-lying plants and flowers? Are you illuminating mid-size trees and bushes? Or, are you illuminating both?
Your fixture selection will need to take into account the height of the item being illuminated, the focal point of the item being illuminated and possible light seepage.
There are 2 general categories of light effects – up-lighting and down-lighting. You can shine a light up into a tree or down on to a plant. You can also shine light from a distance away from the plant or tree but that will cause light seepage. You never want your lighting to shine in your eyes and you frankly don’t ever want to see the light source. You want to see your creation – your garden.
The best placement for fixtures is in very close proximity to the plants, flowers, trees and shrubs. You want to direct a very soft light in close proximity for the best lighting effect.