I used to be a morning person. Nothing made me happier than listening to the birds and enjoying my tea out on the deck. The kaleidoscope of colours. The symphony of sounds. The rejuvenation of the sunshine. It all combined to create a little piece of heaven that started my day on the right track. Retirement changed everything. I no longer had a reason to get up early. I started sleeping in. Every day, I seemed to wake up later and later. As a result, I stayed up late into the night. I began to miss my garden. I missed the flowers. I missed that connection with Nature.
Now, the easiest thing to do would have been to set an alarm and get up earlier, but human beings constantly seek pleasure. Sleeping late was a luxury I had not been allowed for most of my life. I was not going to give it up. I had to figure out a way to enjoy my gardens in the evenings so that I could continue to sleep.
We added lights to the garden beds and were swarmed by insects drawn to the glow. We built a seating area in a dark, quiet area down by the water and became a late-night snack for mosquitoes and black flies. The one time we were not being eaten alive, a raccoon chased us across the lawn and back into the house. It seemed my garden was not habitable at night.
Glowing Flowers…
One evening, as I washed the pots and pans that had accumulated throughout the day, I saw a full moon low on the horizon. It was bright white, all the contours on its surface appearing as shadows. I put the dishcloth down and walked to the patio door. I slid it open, and fresh, cool night air rushed in. I stepped out of the house, wiping my damp hands on my pants. The moon transfixed me. I stared into its depths and walked over to the stairs, leaving the door open.
Something in the garden caught my eye as I started down the steps. It was pale white and seemed to be glowing in the moonlight. I walked closer, and the object began to reveal itself. It was a single white rose. It was reflecting the moonlight, making it appear to glow. I looked up at the sky sprinkled with stars and thought I could see through the darkness to the other end of the universe.
That was the beginning of my moon garden. Other white flowering plants joined that single white rose. Mock orange and white lilac shrubs produced flowers about our heads. White-bloomed cultivars of creeping phlox and candytuft created a “Living mulch” to keep the weeding to a minimum. Large clumps of white lilies and Shasta daisies created glowing focal points after sunset. We made sure to have plants that bloomed at different times of the season and were varied in shape and size to add interest, not just for ourselves but for the pollinators that would visit.
…Sweet Scents…
As we researched, we discovered that some flowers, like those of Evening Primrose and Yucca, are only pollinated by moths, which is why they bloom at night. Some plants become extremely fragrant after dark, attracting moths with their scent. In fact, moths are the most efficient pollinators out there. Butterflies have long daylight hours to feed, while the moths have only a few hours. They are much faster than any of the daytime fliers, allowing them to visit more flowers per hour. We added more sweetly scented plants – flowering tobacco honeysuckle vines. We took down the lights so that they would not disorient moths and make them stop pollinating the flowers.
…and a Symphony of Sounds in the Garden
The more we planted, the more life we saw. Flies and squash bees buzzed past us. Beetles and ants scurried over the rocks. Crickets, bullfrogs, and spring Peepers serenaded us. We have seen the graceful dance of the fireflies and heard the fluttering of bats as they flew overhead.
I am in love with my moon garden. I sit out there, wrapped in my favourite blanket to keep the chill and the mosquitos away. The raccoon seems to have wandered off to a less occupied space. The brightness of the stars is mirrored in the gardens around me, and I am happy to have this little peace of heaven to end each day peacefully and content. Of course, a glass of wine, or sometimes a bottle, makes the night even more beautiful.
Get started designing your moon garden this winter. Message me if you have questions.
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