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What's a Moon Garden?
Create an Evening Garden
Did you know that once evening arrives a magical world of plants and insects begins to stir?
There are plants that keep their blooms tightly shut by day, but when touched by the cool breeze of evening, their blossoms pop open, revealing most luscious night scents.
These flashy night bloomers attract night pollinators that are incredibly beautiful and mysterious.
It's all found in a moon garden.
Just What is a Moon Garden?
A moon garden is a garden that looks fabulous by day, but at night it really begins to shine. Moon gardens are designed to be enjoyed both day and night.
Evening is when the night blooming flowers begin to let loose. They show off their personality by quickly unfurling their petals and releasing their flirtatious perfume.
The one necessary requirement of a moon garden is that you must sit still and allow your senses to acclimate to the low light. Once you've tuned into your senses, you'll discover sights, sounds and scents that only belong to the night.
Before you know it, you'll feel relaxed and worry free, leaving the frantic pace of the day behind.
Ingredients for a Moon Garden
- White or light colored flowers for daytime interest
- Night blooming flowers for intoxicating scents
- Solar garden lights for sparkle
- A comfy seat to take it all in
Intoxicating Evening Scents - Night Bloomers
By far the most important ingredient for your moon garden is the night bloomer. Did you know there are plants that only show off their blooms in the evening hours?
These flowers could be called shy by day, but just wait. Once the day begins to cool and the night slips in......they really put on a show. Night bloomers wait for the evening hours to show off their stuff, often unfolding in a matter of minutes!
Their most telling feature? Evening bloomers have an intoxicating scent, one that's only experience in the evening hours.
Not only do they have a special signature scent, they also attract unique nighttime pollinators. The first time you experience a visit from the hummingbird hawk moth you'll be hooked on the moon garden experience.
The Moon Flower (vine), Sacred Datura, Evening Stock, Night Phlox, Night Blooming Jasmine (pictured above) and Flowering Tobacco are popular night blooming flowers perfect for a moon garden.
Flowers for Daytime Dazzle - White and Light Colored Blooms
You'll want your garden to look inviting by day as well as night, so make sure you add some day blooming plants. Bright white blooms or light colored flowers are the best for a moon garden.
Why use white flowers? In the low light of evening showy colorful flowers fade to grey and are hard to distinguish, however bright white petals pop from the darkness.
Flowers that are light in color or silver hued also show themselves off in the evening.
Time to Unwind - Slow Down and Sit a While
A spot to relax and enjoy your garden is crucial to the whole moon garden experience.
Because it takes a good 5 to 10 minutes for your eyes to adjust to the low light and the rest of your senses to zone in, you need to slow down to enjoy the experience.
Once you begin to allow yourself to relax, your senses will increase. You'll notice the unique sounds of the night pollinators, the bouquet of scents on the breeze and the luminous glow of the garden blossoms.
Before you know it, you've forgotten all about your hectic day.
Bring on the Sparkle - Add a Bit of Nightime Glow
A bit of twinkle will give your moon garden a magical look. There're many wonderful features you can add to your garden, any will be a nice addition. Make sure the lighting you select is not harsh; you don't want to ruin the calming effect. Remember - the stars of the garden are the flowers and you don't want lighting to outshine them.
Solar lit gazing balls, twinkling lights, solar lanterns and moonbeam jars are all great accessories for a moon garden.
Accessories for a moon garden - Get your moon garden sparkle on.
Give your moon garden a little mood lighting. Add some twinkle and a bit of magic with these solar garden accessories.
Click on the links below to learn more about each product.
Solar lanterns give a soft glow
Over the Moon for Moon Gardens
"All gardeners live in beautiful places, because they make them so." ~ Joseph Joubert
What do you think about moon gardens?
Don't forget a place to perch. - A Garden Bench: Necessary Accessory for your Moon Garden
Remember, it takes a few minutes for your eyes to adjust to the evening light. You have to deliberately slow down and relax to reap all the benefits of your moon garden. The evening scents, sounds and sights are waiting for you to take them in.
Grab a comfy place to start your moon garden experience.
Oh, if you add a glass of your favorite wine, it will just be perfect. Over-the-moon perfect.
Just click on the links below to learn more info about each bench.
I hope you'll get a chance to experience a moon garden. If you want to make one, it's very easy to do. Just find a small space in your yard and plant a few white flowering plants and a night bloomer or two. You can slowly add to your garden over time. Remember to add a place to sit and a few moon garden accessories. It's easy to create your very own oasis right in your backyard.
Want more info on moon gardens?
- Moon Gardens and the Secret Life of Night Bloomers
This is my latest work at Squidoo. It's all about flower nightlife. I bet there are a few things going on after dark you didn't even know about. - GardenTrappings.com
Here's my website. Stop in to see more moon garden info. - All About Moon Gardens
List of night bloomers and daytime flowers good for moon gardens. - Moon Garden Planning Guide
A few tips on how to plan your evening garden. - The GardenWeb- Moon Garden Info
Here's the best forum around. Check it out for interesting tips about moon gardens.
Thanks for your visit. - Say hello if you're inclined. It would make my day.
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@seegreen: I hope so too. You can always plant a moon flower vine in a large, moveable planter. thanks for coming by!
I've been wanting a moon garden for years. We move so often though that I don't get to really enjoy my gardens. I'm hoping that will change soon.
Ooh I love this idea! Thanks for the unusual and interesting lens...
Beautiful idea. I expect that you need a garden that looks somewhat decent during the day in order to have one that looks good at night.
great lens! I love the idea of having a moon garden.
Wonderful images.
I was very interested in moon garden and will be back to read more.
Lovely lens - i used to live in a home with a moon garden that included night jasmine. The smell was so intoxicating and comforting. *blessed
They're so beautiful. My grandparents had moon plants in their yard; great to enjoy on the porch swing with some tea.
I love the idea of night gardens. Night scented stocks and tobacco plants are my two favourites for dusk time scent.
Creative lens.Well done.
Lovely lens! I`d never heard of moon gardens but I love the idea!
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@lesliesinclair: thanks and I hope you'll try one.
Great gardening ideas. Makes me start thinking in this direction.
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@VspaBotanicals: Well, little moon child, you'd just love sitting under a full moon with some great flowers to gaze at too. I think you'd appreciate it more than most. thanks for coming over for a visit.
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@Allison Whitehead: Oh, I hope you'll try one. I love the even fragrances. thanks so much for the dusting!
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@zabrinaw: I hope you will. You can start with a really small one, too.
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@getmoreinfo: It's really the perfect spot to wind down after a busy day.
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@Katsorourke: That's great. Come back and let me know if you do start one. Happy Spring.
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@JLovasz: Thanks so much for stopping by, Jim. I always appreciate your support and kind words.
Wonderful idea! I never heard of moon gardens! I'm so keen on making my own moon garden soon:-)
What a very beautiful lens! We don't have the best climate for being out late at night, but I do certainly remember the scent of honeysuckle and certain jasmines in our garden at night, when I was kid.
I like the moon garden! Lovely idea!
This is a lovely peaceful idea. - hope to grow one someday.
Positively enchanting! :)
When I was a little girl, my elderly neighbor told me I was a "moon child". She was an herbalist as a matter of fact. I have no idea what she meant, but I do love sitting beneath full moons and looking up at them. I also sleep better when there is a full moon, but can't sleep well when it's raining. I looooooove this lens.
What a gorgeous idea. As an avid gardener I think this is a great idea and I might try it for our garden. Blessed :)
The idea has always enchanted me! I certainly want to try a moon garden someday.
I think having an evening garden is a great idea.
Oh wow having a moon garden would be so magical, I am going to start one asap. Thank you great lens
I can feel the peace of your moon garden from just looking at the pictures. Beautiful and tranquil, very inviting!
Would love to visit a moongarden. Maybe someday......
Night blooming jasmine is my favourite. Yet another reason to eat outside on the evening!
Oh this is so lovely, I am certainly going to try my hand creating a moon garden, since I love being out when the moon is bright anyhow, to have flowers to enjoy too, oh how exciting, thanks for a lens full of wonderful ideas, simply beautiful!
When spring finally hits I love spending my extra time out in our gardens...and in the evening the wife and I spend a lot of time quietly on the deck enjoying the quiet time!
I know some flowers bloom at night. But I've never heard of moon gardens before.
Beautiful idea! Thanks for sharing.
I have never experienced a Moon Garden before, but it sounds magical! Great lens, I really enjoyed the pictures, your narrative, and learning something new!
Wish I could spend more time outdoors at night to enjoy the moonlight shining in the garden. Thanks for sharing your moon garden.
A very beautiful, unique garden idea!
I want to grow a moon garden!
@justramblin: All I need is to get the land, right now I live in a town house condo and we have no yard at all but we are looking to move hopefully by the end of this year and one of these gardens is without a doubt on my list.
Lovely idea! I'm moonstruck.. wish I get to experience a moon garden ^_^
Those Solar-Powered Glowing Sun Jars are very nice. Not seen them before.
Great Lens!
What a beautiful lens, really love it.
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@Rosanna Grace: Thanks, RoseGrace.
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@dom-wells: Thanks, Dom.
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@artbyrodriguez: I appreciate your visit and comments.
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@squidoopets: Thanks for your visit and the dusting, too.
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@Judith Nazarewicz: Hurry up Spring. Maybe you can have one in your new yard. Good luck on your move.
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@john-stewartsr: John, come back and tell me all about yours if you do start one. Hurry up spring, yes.
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@flycatcherrr: Flycatcher, thanks for stopping by and for the dusting. Much appreciated.
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@JohnTannahill: Cheers to a fellow lunatic!
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@JoshuaJDavid: Joshua, if you do, come back and tell me about it. thanks for coming by.
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@asmond5: What's great about gardens is that you can start slowly and add on when you have the time and money. What you envision can be accomplished without too much expense!
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@miaponzo: Thanks. Maybe you'll try one?
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@Elyn MacInnis: Yes, that's why they're becoming more popular. It's nice to extend your living space to the outdoors, too. Thanks for the visit.
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@andrew69: thanks, Andrew. Glad you came by.
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@mrbill7474: No, you're invited to stop by and try it out. Come on over.
Another wonderful lens, Lisa! Your profile information at the top of the lens says 'you should try it'. Do you mean we're all invited to hang out in YOUR moon garden, or are we supposed to be creating our own? :-)
First time heard of a flower that blooms in the evening. These look beautiful
So many people have to work in the day and then don't have much time to enjoy their gardens... but with a moon garden, you can enjoy X 2 - and have total enjoyment at night. Lovely idea!
I think a moon garden sounds like the most amazing thing ever!!!!
You have made me fall in love with these moon gardens. I have always wanted to have a huge garden that you can walk through and has benches throughout as well as some well places hammocks and a little water fall.
No idea how much it will cost to build my vision but it is definitely a goal I want to achieve!
We are going to build one of these, what a great lens, thank you.
Nothing wrong with lunatic gardeners. Great idea, especially the glass of wine.
Absolutely lovely.
Wonderful lens! Thank you : )
What a great idea. I have just the spot for one. Hurry up spring
Ahhhhh moon gardens how intoxicating. I love sitting out at night once everything is quite and all there is to hear is the night sounds and under the stars it's so peaceful, a perfect time to take in the beauty and peace of a moon garden. I must not forget about the intoxicating scents of all the night bloomers. You made me think of how I can't wait for spring and summer. :-) What a beautiful lens!
Oh my goodness - I would love to enjoy a moon garden as a place to meditate amongst the luscious scents at the end of the day .. blessed
I've heard of Moon Gardens...great topic for a lens and beautiful photos.
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@kerbev: Thanks. you're my first guest. I appreciate the comment and visit.
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@LilyBird: Glad you came by. thanks.
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@Mr Criminology: thanks, Criminology. I appreciate your visit.
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@MelanieKaren: Oh, I've done the same thing. I tried to get time lapsed photos, but they just came out too dark. What a thing to see, though.
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@anitabreeze: Evening florals are so intoxicating. I hope you'll try one and thanks for stopping by.
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@anonymous: uh-oh, you carry a big stick, that will help.
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@CassandraWrites: Thanks very much.
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@Thamisgith: Thanks, Hamish. Nice to see you again.
Looks stunning, I want one of these someday
Lovely idea. Great lens.
This is a great idea! I've never heard of night bloomers. Your photos are beautiful.
great lens, but how to you prevent mossie from biting when you roam in the evenings?
Yes, this is wonderful! I have noticed that some of my plants look and smell better in the evening and I have always thought of making part of my garden an 'evening garden'. I love the term moon garden!
really beautiful :) I like this topic a super lot! Moon flowers are one of my favorites. I've actually gone outside and waited patiently for them to all of a sudden spiral open. It is lovely to watch!
beautiful pictures,very clear.
I had not heard of a moon garden before reading your fantastic lens. Thanks!
They're just beautiful!
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