Invasive Plants

Some of the nicest looking plants can become your enemy.  I recommend that you do a little research before you buy plants to know what kind of growth habit they have.  Many of the ground covers are invasive, which is fine if that’s what you want; but otherwise they can be very hard to control.  Also beware of which ones self seed, as unknowingly they too can overcome an area.   

Goutweed, ribbon grass, lily of the valley, snow in summer, and sea holly, are very nice plants but spread very quickly.  

 If you have a large plastic containers, like the ones trees are sold in, you can cut the bottom out, and bury it up to the top of the container.  Then fill it with soil and plant in it.  This will help to control its spread for the plants that spread by rhizomes (underground).

 

top photo:Snow in summer

lower photo: goutweed

photos by: Prairie Scapes

Landscape Lighting

Outdoor lighting can be used for visibility of entrances and steps, to enhance features, add mood and interest, to create multiple living spaces, for security, and for signage.

Successful outdoor lighting requires planning and the selection of the proper fixtures. There is a wide variety of styles and price ranges available from packaged systems to custom designed ones.

The packaged systems are limited as to their location, distance from the transformer and number of lights. Custom systems are more flexible as to the style of lighting and quantity. 

 Lighting can be:

•  silhouette effect by using back lighting
• directional as in shadow or uplighting  
• accenting by highlighting a single item                  

Some of the different styles of lights are: path lights, cone lights, floodlights, pond lights, stone lights, surface lights and deck lights.

• Path lights can be edge lights installed alternately along the path.
• Cone lights added to planting beds give interest and highlight color and texture of plants.
• Floodlights can shine from behind an object for shadowing (works good with color) or shine onto objects to accent vertical or textured surfaces. They can also be attached to tree branches and give a moonlighting effect to the area below. 
• Pond lights work best if there is foam- you can light the bubbles.
• Stone lights have the bulbs embedded in them and can be used for accents or in stairs.
• Surface lights can be mounted onto surfaces of walls whereas deck lights can be built into posts or steps.

             

top photo by:www.lightingalfresco.co.uk 

wide step photo by:bettabritish98.blogspot.com

pond photo by:www.hgtv.com60  

retaining wall step photo by:www.integral-lighting.com

                              

                                              
           

           

The Night Garden

 

The garden at night… so quiet, so peaceful, so undemanding.  Appealing to the senses, a time for you to unwind from the day’s busy activities.  This could be your garden, and these are things that can transform your 'day' garden into a 'night' garden.

Sight- Plants that have white blossoms and silver leaves glow in reduced light; while pale pinks and yellows appear to shimmer. Moonlight illuminates everything, casting shadows from arbors and trees, and accenting the shading of variegated leaves; but this affect can also be accomplished with subtle landscape lighting, changing the entire atmosphere into one of enchantment.

Smell– Chose any of the many perennial and annual flowers that radiate their fragrance in the evening, adding a delicate scent to the surroundings.

Touch- Create a cushiony sensation by walking on some ‘walkable’ herbs, such as thyme or mint, planted amongst stepping stones. When their leaves are crushed, the bonus of their aromatic scent can revitalize your senses.

Sound- The sound of water in the landscape can be soothing, whether a bubbling fountain or a stream gently flowing over rocks.  Soft tinkling wind chimes, the rustle of leaves and grasses blowing in a breeze, the crackling of a fire in a fire tray or chimera; can transport you into the world of relaxation and reflection.

Just as winterscaping can add another dimension to the seasons, ‘nightscaping’ can enhance our daily lives.

Photo by: rozcawley.typepad.com