I’m so excited about this second and (sadly) final gardening guest post from Lara Lewis, gardener and jewelry maker extraordinaire. Today’s post is all about the joys of moon gardening. I haven’t experimented much with moon gardening, but after reading Lara’s post, I think I need to give it a try!
I’ve been enjoying gardening for many years and have tried lots of design ideas, but surprisingly, until this year, I have never planted a moon garden. Most of you have probably already heard of these, but for those of you who haven’t, the name kind of gives it away: It’s a garden that is best enjoyed at night. Being a night owl, the idea of planting a garden for the primary purpose of enjoying it by the light of the moon has always held a romantic appeal to me. I guess, though, when it came down to choosing plants for my garden, my eye was always drawn towards the saucy brights, and I just never committed fully to the required moon garden color scheme, which is dominantly white.
My moon garden is taking form in the back of our yard, near an old wooden shed, where I just planted some “sweet autumn” clematis. I am assured by many growers that this vigorous climber will eventually engulf the shed with thousands of tiny white blossoms in late summer/early autumn, perfuming the air with a heady vanilla scent. Nearby, I also sowed seeds for flowering tobacco (Nicotiana); the tall variety,
with pendulus white blossoms (that also smell divine) near a clump of white bleeding heart which is currently covered in dangling jewel-like flowers. I am particularly fond of Nicotiana as, like other night blooming flowers, it attracts nighttime pollinators such as the lovely sphinx moth. Because our eye registers blues so intensely in fading light, I will also be adding delicate china-blue delphiniums, and for scent: white casablanca lilies. Nearby is a bench so we can not only view the pretty garden, but also hear the melodic sound of the nearby fountain. Don’t worry, I won’t forget the bug spray!
Ready to get started? You don’t need a lot of space to plant a moon garden…even a patio will do! Consider these factors:
-Look for plants that have white or blue blossoms, and/or variegated leaves. Perennials are great because they come back year after year, but don’t overlook annuals; they bloom all season!
-Consider scent when planning your moon garden. Many plants, such as night blooming jasmine are especially intoxicating at night.
-Don’t forget structural features, such as trellises, pillars, even evergreen shrubs. These provide the “bones” of your garden, and might cast interesting shadows in the moonlight.
-Add a water element, such as a small pond or birdbath. Reflective surfaces mirroring the night sky, or even the sound of splashing water creates a magical atmosphere.
-Site your garden where you can view it from the house, in case weather or circumstances won’t permit an evening stroll. But for evenings when it is possible to go outside, provide a seating and/or dining area where your garden can be best enjoyed by yourself and guests!
There is a plethora of information on the web to help you begin your moon garden. I particularly like this site to help you get started.
Happy Gardening!
Tags: gardening, guest blogger, lara lewis
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