Enjoying the view of your flower garden should not have to end when the sun goes down, especially when there are so many wonderful options for garden lighting on the market today. If you are considering adding or changing lights in your garden, you should first decide what theme or mood you want to create. Perhaps you have several dainty, pastel flowers and want to establish a romantic mood; or maybe your garden contains large, bright colored flowers and you prefer a more festive theme. You may even have a xeriscape garden where you would like to create the ambience of a desert sunset.
No matter what visual mood you want, it is important that the light fixtures you choose coordinate, rather than contrast, to maintain continuity of form and style. All of the lighting does not need to be identical, but it should be similar in color and shape. If you choose copper plated globe lights for the garden path, for example, use rounded copper plated lights throughout. Do not switch to polished nickel lamps with sharp, squared edges. Using a variety of structurally similar lights at varying heights and intervals will give your garden a unique visual appeal.
Along with choosing the right lights, supplying the right amount of light is essential. Stick with your theme and add subtle lighting that will enhance your garden for the proper effect. Ideally, you do not want your garden as heavily lit at night as it is in the day. Fewer lower wattage lights, strategically placed, can produce a beautifully dramatic mood for any garden theme. Use colored bulbs or filters for color scheme: pink, yellow and blue for sunrise; red, orange and yellow for sunset; greens and blues for sea or forest effects. Following these basic rules will help you make your night time garden shine.
