Some Enchanted Evening

Plant a romantic moon garden with inspiration from this extract from Melanie Walker andConnallOosterbroeks new book Garden Style: Creating Beautiful Gardens in South Africa

- Melanie Walker

As the name implies, moon gardens are meant to be enjoyed as the sun goes down and after dark as you relax in your garden and watch the glow of the plants and accessories against the evening sky. By selecting the right plants, you’ll be amazed by how lovely the right shade of white looks as the light softens and turns dark. Just as incandescent lights draw moths at night, white flowers in the moon garden at twilight draw the eye with their brightness. Add another dimension to your design by including plants with a scent that will waft across the garden on warm, sultry evenings.

PLANNING A MOON GARDEN

Keep it simple and uncluttered with well-lit paths and white or light coloured stone hardscaping and furniture. Trellises offer vertical support and bring climbers up to nose level, and when the planting is full, these will shelter you from wayward breezes on cooler evenings. Well-positioned mirrors double ambient lighting and give a reflective quality to an outdoor living room. Add a gentle water feature to mask any street noise.

CHOOSING PLANTS

When selecting after-dark plants, white and pale-coloured plants shine so stick to a light colour palette that uses plants with white, cream, yellow or pale-pink flowers, as the eye doesn’t pick up the darker hues of blue, mauve, purple and red as well after sunset. Use dark hues to create specific effects. Add a sense of mystery and depth by positioning plants with darker flowers and foliage beside lighter shades. As the dark colours become paler with the setting sun, they will form shadowy spaces.