An Evening Garden

Evening Gardens were very popular around the turn of the 20th century.  Their origin dates back to the Victorian era before electricity.  The concept of an evening garden was to create a monochromatic scheme of white flowers, variegated and silver foliage which would reflect light from the moon.  When the moon was at its fullest stage, the nighttime garden would come alive.  The light-colored plant leaves and flowers would appear illuminated, while its green foliage disappeared into a tapestry of darkness. The key to creating an effective evening garden is to arrange the plants so the white blooms and foliage are evenly distributed. This allows for the light to dance across the garden.  Additional color can be added for daytime enjoyment as well, but the flower and leaf colors must be dark.  Dark blues and purple flowers work best, along with purple- leafed plants to provide accents.   These days, evening gardens can be enjoyed even when the moon is not full. This is because our night sky is no longer as dark as it used to be.  Careful analysis of your property and the ambient light coming from neighboring homes and street lights will help determine the best location for an evening garden.
Written by Rob Schwarz, Landscape Architect Schmechtig Landscapes