Source: Martha Smith (309) 836-2363 Contact: Bob Sampson (217) 244-0225 Extension Communications Specialist e-mail: rsampson@uiuc.edu
As evening is the primary time for most people to enjoy their garden, why not plan and plant for this time of day, said a University of Illinois Extension horticulture educator.
"To those who work all day, the garden is a calming refuge at home," said Martha Smith. "Why not plan and plant for this time of day? Choose a garden site that is easily viewed from a comfortable spot, such as your favorite chair on a deck or a rocker on a porch.
"You have worked all day and now you can sit and relax and enjoy an evening garden."
To ensure enjoyment, select plants that will give the best show from 6 p.m. until nightfall and beyond.
"Colors are important for your evening garden," she noted. "Dark, cool colors such as purple and deep blue will be lost at dusk. Light colors take on a luminescent quality in the evening. White, cream, or yellow will pop out. Pale pinks and blues will work but place them adjacent to lighter colors or against white fencing to accent the contrast."
Perennials come in and out of bloom according to the season. Gardeners should choose spring, summer, and fall bloomers to ensure a continuous flow of color.
For white flowers, Smith recommended tall garden phlox, oriental lily, Shasta daisy, spring anemone, baby's breath, Euphorbia corollata, boltonia, tulip, daffodil, bleeding heart, or gas plant.
Soft yellows or creams can be found in "Moonbeam" coreopsis, "Crème Brulee" coreopsis, daylily, hollyhock, fall mums, or columbine.
"Annuals will bloom all season and fill those in-between times when the perennials aren't at their peak," she said. "Alyssum, impatiens, petunias, geraniums, verbena, cosmos, or spider plant all offer light colors that will shine in the low evening light."
It is important to also remember foliage color.
"Stay away from the burgundy foliage as well as plain dark green," Smith recommended. "Introduce silver foliage with artemesia, dusty miller, lambs ear, or yarrow. Yellow foliage will really shine with plants such as hosta, barberry, veronica, caryopteris, or coleus.
"Chartreuse foliage is popular. Look for more introductions boasting this lime color such as 'Marguerita' sweet potato vine. Foliage with variegations of white or gold also works well."
Fragrance is an important factor in the evening garden, too.
"Spring-blooming hyacinth, night-blooming stock, sweet pea, carnation, peony, or nicotiana all will add a delicate scent to your garden," said Smith. "Herbs are also great for fragrance. Creeping thyme underfoot or a rosemary plant within reach to pinch for a fresh jolt of fragrance are great additions to the evening garden.
"Moon vine (Ipomoea alba) has large white flowers that open in the evening and glow. Their fragrance attracts night pollinators which provide added entertainment in an evening garden."
