Creating magical spaces

Great gardens

When sun goes down, a garden can turn into a magical place. If you enjoy being with nature, but get time only after a day’s work, then evening gardens should be your choice.

Or if you entertain often, then taking it outdoors is a great opportunity to create a memorable experience for your guests. As the sun dips in the horizon, the changed light falls on plants and plumes, it all becomes a canvas for nature to unleash its creativity.

Ever noticed the shine on leaves and glow of grass plumes in that light? It is captivating. Once darkness sets in, the magic can still continue. You can see a glow of white or light coloured flowers, you can smell the blooms, and you can hear the leaves rustle. Add a mild chime or trickling water, you have got yourself a slice of paradise in your home. Imagine, all that combined with moonlight – who would want to be anywhere else?  

In gardens meant to be enjoyed at dusk and later, it is the combined experience of all your senses that counts more than the variety of plants or colours or stimulations. It is the hour for silhouette and shadows. Subtle elegance is most powerful.

All the playfulness of colours rests at night and white is one which reflects back every little catch of light that may fall on it. Variegated, silver and white foliage stands out. A background of dark leaves helps the sprinkling of white and silvers standout even better. It is guaranteed that a garden designed for the night will look absolutely elegant during the day as well.   

Planned pathways

The layout of the night garden needs to be intuitive. Paths should be laid out clearly and paved evenly to prevent accidents and hesitation from the user. The planning should accommodate the elderly and disabled.

The success of a night garden depends greatly on a smart lighting plan. Lighting should be sufficient without robbing the beauty of darkness. No flood lights please. Let the soft glow of candles, lanterns, and flames or recessed lighting rule.

Let a tree canopy glow with hanging lanterns or discreet uplight. A great way to control outdoor ambience is by using some lighting that may work with dimmers. You have the flexibility of a sufficiently lit dark night while on other nights allow moonlight to rule. That is why it helps to know the movement of moon over your garden. The knowledge will allow you to choose vantage points and most flattering locations for an accent plant or feature.

Plants are chosen for white coloured flowers/ leaves or for fragrance. Before choosing plants for fragrance, be sure that the perfume from it is right for you. Not all perfumes are enjoyed by everyone. Many flowers develop stronger fragrance at night or bloom only at night. Also mixing up a concoction of fragrances is a huge mistake. Based on the usage, create sub areas within the garden which may be dominated by a particular fragrance, like the specially perfumed garden rooms or pathways.

Bring fragrance closer to the windows, so that it can be enjoyed from both inside and out. Do consider seating arrangements generously to allow you to sit and absorb the olfactory experience.  

For any plant to bloom and be at its best it needs the right growing conditions during daytime. Basic rules of gardening will dictate placement and bring out the glory at night. A knowledgeable local nursery is the best place to find out what plants will work for you. To prevent monotony, do include some architectural plant that have accent silhouette. Inclusion of these will also help unifying the garden while still allowing creation of independent rooms.

Use of containers

Using the same fundamentals, such a look can be created in containers, in balconies and terrace. There is a high likelihood that your room has a balcony.

Choose a big container and suitable fragrant vine, allow it to hold the supports on the wall. With every waft of fragrance you will be rewarded generously for the least effort it took.  Extend your enjoyable time outdoors and refresh or build memories in magical night gardens.  

(The writer is a landscape designer.)