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The Moon in
Ancient Times
The Bible makes numerous literal and
poetic references to the moon. Job breathlessly
exclaimed, "He covers the face of the full moon,
spreading his clouds over it" (Job 26:9).
Genesis 1:16 describes the creation of the moon,
and Deuteronomy 4:19 forbids the worship of it.
Some ancient people groups, including several
kings of Judah, worshiped the sun and moon (2
Kings 23:5).
Glory to God
"But you, O God, are my
king from of old;
you bring salvation upon the earth.
The day is yours, and yours also the night;
you established the sun and moon.
It was you who set all the boundaries of the earth;
you made both summer and winter."
-Psalm 74:12,16,17
By the Light of the Silvery Moon
by Debbie Rodgers
In
his classic American folksong Beautiful
Dreamer, Stephen Foster invites the
dreamer of the title to awaken to a
world in which the "sounds of the rude
world heard in the day, lull'd by the moonlight, have all
pass'd away."
Often the only time we
have to spend in our outdoor space is in
the evening and on into the darkness.
Why not enhance the tranquility of the
experience with a moon garden -- one
designed to be enjoyed at dusk and into
the night?
Color
The obvious place to start planning a garden that is to be enjoyed at night is with the color of blooms and foliage. You'll want white blooms and silvery plants whose pale leaves will reflect the soft moonlight. In addition to using flowers, create visual effects with different types of foliage -- smooth or hairy, round or narrow, and an assortment of variegation patterns.
The obvious place to start planning a garden that is to be enjoyed at night is with the color of blooms and foliage. You'll want white blooms and silvery plants whose pale leaves will reflect the soft moonlight. In addition to using flowers, create visual effects with different types of foliage -- smooth or hairy, round or narrow, and an assortment of variegation patterns.
The list of white or pale
flowers that you can incorporate
includes stunning white pampas grass,
white astilbe, Shasta daisies and large
white oriental lilies, such as
Casablanca. Evening primrose is not
white, but opens its blooms at night and
is worthy of inclusion.
There's a large
assortment of appropriate silvery
foliage plants including lavender, dusty
miller, lamb's ear and ghost-plant,
which is available in many different
shapes and sizes. The caladium's large,
icy white, heart-shaped leaves make it
ideal for a moon garden. You can also
incorporate some of the many species of
hostas with light-colored, variegated
leaves.
If you include white
flowers that bloom at different times of
the year, you can extend the viewing
pleasure of your moon garden through
three seasons. Start in the spring with
white tulips and snowdrops, swing into
summer with cleome, lilies and astilbe,
and extend your garden's life into
autumn with Shasta daisies and white
monkshood.
Scent
Some plants have flowers that open their blooms only at night, to attract night flying pollinating insects. Many have an intense fragrance that will enrich your moon garden.
Some plants have flowers that open their blooms only at night, to attract night flying pollinating insects. Many have an intense fragrance that will enrich your moon garden.
A beautiful choice is the
aptly named moon-flower, a fragrant
night-blooming member of the morning
glory family. Other excellent choices to
perfume the night air include four
o'clocks (also called marvels of Peru),
flowering tobacco (not the smoking
kind!) and evening stock. Honeysuckle is
a richly scented perennial climbing vine
that is also available in white, as well
as the more commonly seen yellow.
Sound
Complete the ethereal feeling in your moon garden by adding some softly moving water. Not only will the sound help set a mellow mood, but the water's surface will reflect ambient light onto your plants and enhance the view.
Complete the ethereal feeling in your moon garden by adding some softly moving water. Not only will the sound help set a mellow mood, but the water's surface will reflect ambient light onto your plants and enhance the view.
Complete the Design
Some gardeners plant a crescent moon-shaped plot of earth to further the effect. No matter what shape it is, be sure to locate your moon garden close enough to your nighttime sitting area to allow the sights, scents and sounds to weave their spell of enchantment.
Some gardeners plant a crescent moon-shaped plot of earth to further the effect. No matter what shape it is, be sure to locate your moon garden close enough to your nighttime sitting area to allow the sights, scents and sounds to weave their spell of enchantment.
If you don't have a yard,
though, don't despair. A moon garden
lends itself extremely well to a city
balcony. Plant a window box with
moon-flowers that climb up a trellis and
add some pots of white patio lilies,
white miniature roses and dusty miller
and you'll have an arrangement that will
beautify the light from those city
streetlamps.
This summer, take back
the night with all of your senses in
your very own moon garden!
About the Author: Debbie Rodgers,
the haven maven, owns and operates
Paradise Porch, and is dedicated to
helping people create outdoor living
spaces that nurture
and enrich them. Her latest how-to guide
“Attracting Butterflies to Your
Home and Garden” is now available on her
web site. Visit her at
www.ParadisePorch.com and get
a
free report on “Eight easy ways to create privacy in your outdoor space”.
free report on “Eight easy ways to create privacy in your outdoor space”.
Photo courtesy of Chris Potter.