Outdoor Garden Lighting
Outdoor Garden Lighting
Applying outdoor low voltage lighting to gardens is a specific application of low voltage landscape lighting. Every garden is unique and reflects both the gardener and the particular landscape effects the garden creates. In fact, there are just as many definitions of a garden as their are gardeners.
Most people today refer to flower gardens and not vegetable gardens when they talk about lighting. But gardens can be hedges, or trees, or cactus, or various combinations of any of these.
Janet Moyer, author of a complete resource book entitled, The Low Voltage Lighting Book, has some interesting advice for those people interested in adding outdoor lighting to their gardens. She says,
“We’re vertical animals, so the garden should be lit vertically, not horizontally,” she says. In a recent article published in the Seattle Times about Moyer, the author says, “Because we’re used to sunshine, light shining down from above looks most natural to us. So she is suggesting we attach fixtures above gardens on architectural elements or trees. In this way they aren’t knocked around by kids and pets as they would be if installed at ground level.
She goes on to say,
To help people feel comfortable outside in the dark, Moyer defines a garden’s boundaries, shape and volume with washes of light. She lights pathways just enough so you can see them safely, layering brighter light on the front door for a sense of welcome. And if you’re worried about lights drawing insects to the garden, Moyer suggests placing a bluer light far away from where you relax outdoors. Insects see blue light best, so will swarm to it.
