Garden lighting can add atmosphere and create a wonderful place to relax after the sunsets. By using lighting you can emphasis certain areas of the gardens and make wandering around the yard safer. Its also seems that by lighting a garden you extend your living space to the outdoors. And if you live in a Zone 5 climate like I do, you want to enjoy all the warm weather you can.

Here are a few suggestions to make lighting the yard successful, fun and easy.

• Use the minimum amount of light so that you can enjoy the special qualities of nighttime. If you supply too much light you will ruin the enchanting feel that the evening brings to gardens. One of the best ways to create this feeling to try and simulate the light level of a bright, moonlit night.

• Light the pathways in your garden. Even if you don’t have defined paths you probably have a route or two through the yard or gardens that you will want illuminated for safety. Use path lights or create a series of pools of light that lead through the garden.

• It’s best to hide the sources of the lights. It adds to the natural look. If you use any lamps choose a softer non-glaring bulb for a more natural look.

• Garden torches and small hanging lanterns from trees add a welcoming look to yards. I make garden lanterns from small glass jars and older teacups. I hang them or from wire and varying heights or sit them around the yard on rocks or old stumps.

• You can also accent the most dramatic trees in the garden. The lighting emphasizes their natural beauty and adds much light to the yard.

• By planting flowers that reflect the night light and bloom at night you can add more color and fragrance to your yard. Moonlight Theme Gardens are very popular.

As with any garden art or added fixtures, use them with in moderation to to accent your yard and gardens.

Technorati Tags: gardening tips, Theme Gardens

Meditation gardens add a relaxing feel to your yard and are wonderful for parties and watching birds, sunrises and sunsets. Meditation gardens should be set up with relaxing colors and fragrant flowers. A fountain is also a nice touch.
photo credit: erix!

As with any garden I put in, a meditation garden should be easy to maintain. You want to spend you time enjoying the garden not weeding and watering.

When setting up a meditation garden keep these tips in mind.

• Allow paths in your garden to flow freely and follow the natural curves of the landscape. Straight paths encourage energy to flow too quickly. If you have a straight path, allow some plants to grow on the path to slow the movement of energy.
• Surround your property with curved fences or stone wall and avoid the straight line.
• Line the back of your garden with trees or large shrubs. This will provide protection and privacy. Use trees that have rounded leaves to keep the energy flow.
• Plant trees or large bushes on each side of your door for protection.
• Keep balance in your yard by planting vegetation that varies in size.
• add garden art to please the eye and relax the soul 
• Enhance yin, or feminine energy, by installing water features in your yard.
• Brighten the darker areas of the garden by installing solar lights along paths or along the edge of gardens. This also enhances yang, or masculine energy, in the yard.
  photo credit: kafka4prez

There are many styles of meditation gardens. They can be simple, structured or very private. But most important they need to be relaxing and your personality and needs will help to shape the meditation garden you create.

Creating relaxing living spaces in your garden will draw the family into the backyard and be a great place for friends and family to gather. I have always thought my yard is my haven away from work and the world. And I always have a special corner of my garden that is my hideaway and meditation area.

Technorati Tags: garden therapy, Theme Gardens

Butterfly gardens are fun to watch and add a new dimension to your back yard. If you enjoy studying nature you will enjoy this garden.
photo credit: Chester Zoo

First it is important to select flowers that bloom at different times. This allows your garden to stay attractive and pleasing.  It will also continue to provide food for the butterflies.

Butterflies have natural predators so you need to offer them protection. You can do this by choosing some tall plants; this will prevent wind from disturbing the butterflies and offer them a place to hide. Include some flat rocks in your garden for the butterflies to congregate on. I try to have a rock or garden art piece that will hold a little water for the butterflies. Or a birdbath!

You will also need to plan the location of the garden. It should be in a sunny area that gets at least 6 hours of sunlight a day. If possible there be some trees near to the area. This will provide more shelter for your butterflies. I usually want some small shrubs nearby too for additional protection.
photo credit: miheco

Most important for your butterfly garden, try to have an area that is pesticide free. Butterflies suffer from today’s chemicals.

Here is a list of flowers and shrubs that will attract butterflies to your garden:

Bee balm – favorite for hummingbirds too!
Black-eyed Susan
Daisy
Honeysuckle
Ivy
Lavender
Lilac
Marigold
Marjoram
Meadow sage
Milkweed – some people are not as enthusiastic about this plant but I this it’s fun and adds interest to the garden
Mint
Parsley
Passion vine
Primrose
Thistle
Verbena
Zinnia

Many consider milkweed a weed so some do not like this plant in the garden.  But butterflies love it, particularly the Monarch butterfly. If you are afraid of the seeds scattering and getting in the yard remove the seedpod right before them break open. Or plant it in a pot so you can move it later. I love the milkweed plant. It has a beautiful fragrant blossom and the pod can be used for many crafting projects.
photo credit: Captain-tucker

This garden will also attract hummingbirds which are so much fun to watch in the gardens. They are particularly attracted to the red bee balm which flowers from late June (in my zone 5) to the fall.

Technorati Tags: butterfly flower plant list, butterfly theme garden, Theme Gardens