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458 Highway 98 North Okeechobee, FL 34972-2578 Phone: (863) 763-6469 E-mail: okeechobee@ifas.ufl.edu Feature Article - for release the week of July 1, 2007 Angela Sachson – Florida Yards & Neighborhoods June 27, 2007 Quick Links: Evening Plants Practical Pointers References |
Sunset. Photo: Dan Culbert, UF/IFAS |
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The Evening Garden
As the days get hotter, and they are guaranteed to do so, visions of working all Saturday afternoon in the garden give way to a desire to hit the pool or the beach or the air-conditioned indoors. It is at that time that the evening garden becomes a draw. Twilight often brings a breeze, cooler temperatures, quiet - and a respite from the hot southern sun.
Yes, you say, and mosquitoes buzzing and biting and me itching and scratching. We can talk about that a little later.
To get the most from your evening garden you will need to choose colors for dusk. As the light in the garden changes at dusk, so does the color palette. Dark red and purple flowers so flashy by day recede to become uniformly dark. Bright green foliage fades to black. Now is the time for pale colors to shine.
As dusk settles some pinks and blues become electric and then fade. This is followed by the light blue, white, cream and yellows which move forward against the dark background. Alyssum, candytuft, white Plumbago, white and yellow daisies are all stand-outs in the evening garden. Clusters or large blooms of white flowers like moonflower and Datura are a bright contrast against dark leaves.
Foliage can contribute to the beauty of the evening garden. Variegated foliage like some gingers, sansevarias, hibiscus, grasses, and devil’s backbone will provide contrast. Grey foliage stands out at night so consider adding dusty miller or feathery Artemisia to your garden. In my garden I have some chartreuse sweet potato vine. Its color is a little loud during the daylight but it virtually shouts “look at me” as the sun sets. The true stars of the evening garden are those flowers that only open at night. Mid to late summer brings out the moonflowers and angel's trumpets. After sunset, it is fascinating to watch moonflowers evolve from tightly closed buds that gradually unfurl until at last they burst open and fill the night air with their perfume There is another advantage to very pale flowers. Because they tend to be pollinated by moths rather than bees and other day-time insects, they give off delightful, musky scents which enhance your Florida Yard experience.
That brings us to the next aspect of evening gardens-- smell! When vision is reduced in the evening, other senses often sharpen, and many plants provide especially wonderful scents at night.
Mock Orange, Honeysuckle (try Lonicera Graham Thomas) and jasmine smell great at night. The night-blooming plants for scent include Nicotiana sylvestris, Shooting Star, Evening Primrose, and, of course, night-blooming jasmine. Add roses and sit back and inhale!
Practical pointers for Evening enjoyment
Now-- to get practical. Make sure your night garden is safe—pick up tools and toys. The garden won’t look so good if the stars you see are from the shovel hitting your head! Don’t forget to also pick up the sprinklers. Low-voltage and solar lights are inexpensive ways to light a path and also to emphasize low-growing whites.
We said we’d talk about mosquitoes. You may have read lately that the mosquito population is expected to increase now that we have had a little rain. Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants, preferably in a light color (you will be part of the evening garden). The most effective repellants are those which contain DEET. Discourage mosquitoes in your landscape by eliminating standing water or treating standing water with B.t. i. (Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis). A little mineral oil on standing water also prevents mosquito production.
Then sit back take a deep breath, exhale and enjoy!
I’ve placed more information on our Okeechobee web page, http://okeechobee.ifas.ufl.edu. If you need additional information on evening gardens or combating mosquitoes, please email us at okeechobee@ifas.ufl.edu or call us at 863-763-6469. Local residents can stop by our office at 458 Hwy 98 North in Okeechobee, and visit our Okeechobee County Master Gardeners from 1 to 3 PM on Tuesday afternoons. And Happy 231st Birthday, America! |
Datura
stramonium Photo:
St.
John Beach Guide
Evening Primrose Oenothera lamarckiana Photo: Wildseed Farms
Philadelphia Phireworks, 2006. Courtesy Phila Visitor Center |
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Watkins, Teresa. “By The Light of the Silvery Moon. ” In: Gardening With Soul website. Orlando: Central Florida UF/IFAS FYN, August 1999. http://cfyn.ifas.ufl.edu/aug99.pdf Worden, Eva and Moore,
Kimberly. Sensory Gardens
[ENH981]. Gainesville: UF/IFAS Extension
Service, June 2004. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/EP117
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White Plumbago Photo:
Powis Castle Artemisia.
Photo:
