There are few things more captivating than a beautiful outdoor garden at its peak. Colorful flowers and bright greenery. The warm sunshine beaming down. But what if you could have a similar experience at night when the moon comes out?
It turns out, you can.
By creating a moon garden, you can have both a stunning, brightly colored flower garden to enjoy in the sunlight as well as a tranquil oasis to escape to and enjoy after dark. It truly is the best of both worlds.
“Typically, a moon garden is a type of theme garden with very light colored-flowers that are meant to reflect light — whether that be artificial or moonlight,” says Kirsten Conrad, horticulture extension agent with the Virginia Cooperative Extension in Arlington. “Some people refer to them as ‘white gardens.’ They are meant to hold great appeal for viewers at nighttime.”
These types of gardens are often seen among avid gardeners.
“It’s something to keep their interest going and their gardening alive as it really is a monochromatic challenge to create a garden that has impact in the nighttime,” Conrad says.
Consider what you want in your garden
The best place to start when creating a moon garden is to consider how you plan to use the space.
Ask yourself: Do you want to include a patio or a pathway? And how are people going to see the garden and enjoy it?
Combining moon gardens with outdoor seating is optimal, says Conrad.
With the addition of gentle lighting, such as patio lights or even a tabletop light or candle, it can be a wonderful nighttime retreat or aesthetic.
“Even if you just do a corner of your garden as a place where you can come out to in the evening and enjoy the warmth, it’s peaceful,” Conrad says. “And the color of the silvers, whites, and light blues can create a wonderful ambiance for an evening party. It is just a nice, tranquil addition.”
Once you determine how you plan to use the garden, you can then begin to design your garden around that and select your plants.
What types of plants should you use?
You want to make sure you’re looking for plants that do their best at nighttime, says Conrad.
“There are lots of plants that don’t even open up until nighttime and this is primarily because they attract night pollinators,” she says.
For instance, 4 o clocks or stocks.
“There are also a lot of plants that can provide the reflection you’re looking for in a moon garden, not only from their flowers but also from their leaves,” Conrad says.
One is the shrub fothergilla.
“These plants have a bluish color leaf and a white flower,” says Conrad, making them a great option for a moon garden.
Hydrangeas, star jasmine, moonflower, and variegated Solomon’s Seal are a few other plant species that would do well in a moon garden.
It’s most important, however, that you match the selection of your plants to the site conditions that you have.
Add in some other senses
Moon gardens offer a great opportunity to incorporate other senses beyond sight to your garden.
“You should really think of a moon garden as being a whole sensory experience,” says Conrad. “We are primarily visual in our appreciation of outdoor garden spaces, but moon gardens allow for us to explore some of those other senses.”
For instance, you could choose plants that have a nice evening aroma.
Examples of these types of plants would be Asiatic or oriental stargazer lilies, tuberoses, and fragrant evening primrose.
You could find ways to work in some sound.
The simplest way to do this is through the addition of a fountain.
“This will not only create gentle sound effects but will also provide a water source for the creatures that we often share a garden with,” says Conrad. “This is an excellent way to attract some of the beneficial helpers such as the insects that we rely on to help with as well as support pollinators.”
How do you care for a moon garden?
When it comes to caring for a moon garden, they are much like any other kind of garden, says Conrad.
“They will have the same type of cultural requirements,” she adds. “They will need to have about an inch of water per week and you will also need to consider whether they are a sun- or shade-loving plant.”
The plants should then be planted in an area that will cater to those needs.
Feature image courtesy 88studio/stock.adobe.com
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