Moon gardens bring a touch of magic to home landscapes.
Skyhobo / Getty Images
Moon gardens add a new dimension to your yard.
There are many reasons to create a moon garden, which is at its best at night.
Credit:Skyhobo / Getty Images
Perhaps you love to entertain then, or thats the time you are free to enjoy your outdoor space.
Maybe you want a place for communing with nature as the garden glows in the moonlight.
Learn how to make the most of a moon garden from expert designers.
Credit:Dana Gallagher
What are moon gardens?
The most common reason to create a moon garden is to enjoy it at night.
Usually, moon gardens are designed with light-reflective plants and surfaces that play with natures changing lighting.
They may also uselighting fixtures, texture, and scent to enhance the sensory experience and enrich the atmosphere.
It creates almost a mystical setting when the moon seems to make everything glow.
Moon gardens extend our enjoyment of the outdoors into the evenings, says Johnsen.
Another benefit of moon gardens is attracting pollinators that are active at night.
Dana Gallagher
Tips for Designing a Moon Garden
1.
As with any good design, consider the spaces practical needs first.
Think about who will be using the space and how.
She useslight-colored or variegated-foliage plantsat strategic junctions as a cue to pay attention.
Pay special attention to steep steps, changes of grade, andopen water featuresthat call for railings.
Uneven surfaces like gravel or mulch pathways can be tricky in heels or on older ankles.
2. grab the right plants and colors.
Choose a palette and the mood you want to strike.
However, the plants and fixtures need to be pale enough to see in the lighting you have.
Deep-toned plants and accents may disappear at dusk.
For example, both red and purple can read as black in the shadows, says Johnsen.
Continue your palette to decorative accents with pale pots, chairs, benches, and lanterns.
Layering varying textures and heights adds depth and mystery to the garden.
Focus on fragrance and pollinators.
Amp up the sensory experience of your space at night by incorporating scented flowers.
Bychoosing fragrant flowersthat are open at night, youll invite and support beneficial night pollinators.
Nocturnal pollinators form an important sector of pollinators whose importance we are only beginning to understand.
They are usually pale or white for easy visibility.
Their fragrance often intensifies as the sun goes down, perfuming night gardens and luring their clientele.
Lighting used safely can be a great tool in a moon garden.
Bloom suggests usinglower-voltage lights, setting timers, or using candlelight instead.
One of my favorite trees is Pacific Fire vine maple.
At night with a little uplight, its phenomenal, says Bloom.
Finally, for a bit of fun, a circular moon gate subtly underscores your gardens intentions.
