How to add night-time garden accents and lighting.

Many of us enjoy our gardens during the day. The sun feels warm, the flowers are bright and cheerful, the scents relax and draw us in. But, do you enjoy your garden after dark? Let me show you how I enjoy my garden at night when the day is done.

I like to enjoy my garden at night. I’ll go out and sit on the patio when it is cool and the day’s work is done and soak in the sights and smells. Adding night-time lighting has made it even more enjoyable. The twinkle lights, pathway lighting, and hanging lights make it a different space than it is in during the day.

In the daytime when everything is fully illuminated. Things look different. The garden is bright and sometimes overly stimulating with all the sights and smells. It’s bold and beautiful during the day, but there is a softness to the garden at night. It’s peaceful. It’s quiet. And it can refresh your soul in a quiet way. During the day the garden needs to be planted, tended, watered, weeded. All enjoyable tasks for many of us, but at night when the work of the day is done, you can enjoy it when the garden is asleep.

Does Your Garden Glow?

Mary, Mary, quite contrary,
How does your garden grow?
With silver bells, and cockle shells,
And pretty maids all in a row.

~ English Nursery Rhyme

The first published version of this poem appears in a book in 1744. Mary’s garden grows and grows. I want that for my garden too. But, I want my garden to GLOW! Putting in a little thought so that you can enjoy your garden at any time of day is worth the effort.

Add Night-Time Lighting to Your Garden

I’ve added night-time lighting to my garden. Below are some of the elements that I’ve used. I’ve added different elements over the years and when I go out to the garden now, I fully enjoy the experience. So, take some time and shop around for elements that you love. Over time, you’ll develop a night-time garden that is a place that you want to be.

Lighting Elements that I Use in My Garden:

Note: I participate in the Amazon Affiliate program. Links below are affiliate links that will earn me a small commission should you decide to purchase something that I recommend.

Fairy Lights: I like to use solar powered fairy lights in garden globes and glass garden ornaments to make them twinkle and glow at night. The sun charges them during the day and they automatically come on after dark. Any fairy lights will work. Just sure they are warm white light to add warmth and ambiance to the garden. The best ones give you choices of lighting options based whether the lights are solid (on all the time) or twinkle, or whether they are flashing or in chasing mode. I aim to spend about $5 per string on my lights. The ones linked above are about $10 for two sets of lights.
Patio Lights: Adding a string of patio lights to your garden gives makes it a space where you can see but it still feels like night. Unlike the harsh brightness of flood lights or spot lights, a string of patio lights can give you a workspace or leisure space that feels comfortable and useable even after dark. Again, be sure to choose warm white lights for added softness.
Pathway Lights: I originally added these pathway lights to my garden soon after we moved to this house, not for the ambiance they provide, but because I wanted to be able to see to walk up the pathway steps in the dark. But, I find that they serve both purposes quite well. They have lasted through cold winters, hot summers, rain and snow, and are still going strong. I’ve been very happy with them.
Hanging Lights: These hanging globe lights have become some of my favorites. I have them hanging on plant stakes along my pathway that goes from the front garden to the back garden. They are beautiful glowing along the walkway at night.
Upcycled Lighted Garden Mushrooms: My garden mushrooms are one of my favorite finds! I found them for sale at a Mennonite store in Pennsylvania and bought as many as I could fit in my car. They would be super easy and affordable to make though if you shop for random glassware pieces at the thrift store. I added solar fairy lights to mine to make them light up at night. Here is a simple YouTube tutorial that I found if you are interested in making your own.