Lighting Up the Garden
My new 'Glowing Embers' Japanese maple uplit in snow.
This is my new screensaver, at least until spring arrives. I took this photo (a 15-second exposure, on a tripod) the other night when we had an unexpected, very tiny snowstorm. I liked the photo so much that I posted it to Facebook and wrote, “Snow + up-lit Japanese Maple = magic. Takes some of the sting out of losing my beautiful crabapple.” Later the image was re-pinned on Pinterest to a “Just a little magical” board. Magic, indeed.
Garden lighting is often thought of as an extravagance, an “extra” that you’ll get around to – someday. But I’ve concluded that it’s one of the most worthwhile investments you can make, to dress up even a new landscape, in terms of bang for the buck. My own front yard is a good example. I had to spend a lot of money this year taking down and replacing two trees,including getting the tree stumps ground out, and replanting one bed area around the new ‘Riversii’ beech. I may have to spend more this coming year because I suddenly have a sunny exposure where I had shade before, and I don’t know which of my current plantings will survive.
It broke my heart to see how small my new trees were when they went in, and how dark the front yard seemed at night. The old trees, you see, had been uplit beautifully.
The branches of my old American beech tree uplit at night.
Without the lighting, the front of the house looked bleak and sad at night, with the only lights on my steps and two carriage light fixtures on either side of the front door. So I bit the bullet and had lighting installed on the ‘Riversii’ and the new Japanese maple by my go-to lighting contractors, Outdoor Illumination Inc. Neither tree is large, but the difference the lighting makes to the house and landscape is amazing.
Lighting can be used not only for trees but to draw your eye to other built elements in the garden, such as these wooden Nepalese screens one of my clients installed as a kind of sculpture.
Three wooden panels surround a young copper beech in a garden in Chevy Chase, Maryland, uplit by soft spots.
Behind this screen is an up-lit Magnolia 'Leonard Messel'
In a more modern landscape setting, you’ll see lights used around pool perimeters, as here in this Potomac, Maryland garden designed by landscape architect H. Paul Davis.
Spotlights for the pool jets as well as the hornbeams and river birches adjacent to the water area create a beautiful effect as dusk descends.
But even away from paths and major trees, lighting in the garden can contribute to an atmosphere of calm and magic.
As evening approaches, a garden bed with color fall foliage is illuminated, bringing the outside in for a little longer.
So consider some “night lights” if you’re working on improvements to your garden. You won’t regret it.
Explore posts in the same categories: landscape, Landscape design solutions, photographyTags: D100, D300, design, fall, private gardens, sculpture in the garden, spring, summer, trees, winter
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February 11, 2012 at 8:26 am
Melissa, you are a very very bad influence!
I have been considering this for a while – but trying not to because of the expense!
February 11, 2012 at 1:54 pm
Do it (says the evil landscape designer). I promise you will thank me for it.
February 11, 2012 at 10:01 am
Great post. Beautiful photography as usual.
February 11, 2012 at 1:55 pm
Thanks for the kind words. The photos span a long period of time; and it’s interesting to realize how difficult it is to photograph when it’s completely dark. Better results in late twilight – the lights are visible but so are details in the surrounding landscape.
February 11, 2012 at 12:28 pm
Lighting creates a functional environment where there wasn’t one before. Plus you can accent plants at night that may seem insignificant in the daytime, creating an entirely different space.
If you think of it in terms of gaining square footage, it’s really cheap!
These are such beautiful examples!
February 11, 2012 at 1:56 pm
Oooh, great way to think about it. Have to keep that in mind when working with clients whom I’m trying to persuade to add lighting.
February 11, 2012 at 1:07 pm
as usual, Melissa, you have dazzled me – thank you!
February 11, 2012 at 1:59 pm
So glad to have you stop by, and I appreciate the comment. Some day I will make it out to your part of the country and we can visit. In the meantime, if you’re ever headed here, please let me know!
February 11, 2012 at 9:08 pm
I would love it either way!
February 11, 2012 at 2:29 pm
Specimens lit up against dark woods or a black night look magical as yours do. But it gets odd in my neighborhood where the houses are close together, there are streetlights, and multiple front yards with uplit trees stretch down the road. The single specimen effect is lost, and instead it looks fussy.
I do love seeing how beautiful your single Glowing Embers is in the right setting!
February 11, 2012 at 4:12 pm
That’s an excellent point worth considering. All the photos above are of lighting on properties that are on a corner, a hill, or that back up to wooded areas – so very little light “pollution” from other sources. Thanks for pointing out this issue, Laurrie – and for taking the time to comment.
February 12, 2012 at 12:21 am
Good suggestion. I like the way it focuses attention to the trees. I can see where it clearly makes a difference in your yard …
February 12, 2012 at 7:59 pm
Susan Hirsch’s sister (Mary Lynn Cook, from Michigan) here: In our winter climate, we need light more than ever at this time of year. Your photographs really set a mood of peace and beauty. I like them very much. We are one of those families who have put it off for “some day”. Thanks for the inspiration!
February 12, 2012 at 9:44 pm
So nice to hear from you! And that’s a very perceptive comment about the added value of lighting the garden where winters can be harsh and daylight hours limited. Lighting one or two specimen trees can really be a great psychological investment in your environment.
February 15, 2012 at 7:31 am
Lighting in the garden creates a functional environment and the images are not look in a natural way but the way of your capturing shows a natural look and make the gardening scenes beautiful. Lighting helps in garden design and makes it attractive and beautiful.
February 16, 2012 at 8:17 pm
Melissa, Lighting in my garden is one of those things that’s been on a vague list of “things to think about some day.” Thanks for this post, which has moved the issue closer to realization in my garden.
February 17, 2012 at 7:24 am
Jean, I’m delighted to hear it. Pick a tree or area you especially like, perhaps one that’s visible from inside the house to double the benefit.
July 7, 2012 at 10:08 pm
all the piictures are so wonderful.