The Garden by Night by Monique Papazian Allen

Nighttime in the garden needn't be reserved for any special event - it should be enjoyed whenever possible. As the sun sets the landscape is transformed into a subtler version of its daytime form. With each inch the sun moves down in the sky the shadows shift and the colors deepen into thicker denser shades of themselves giving the landscape an entirely new look. Once the sun finally settles below the horizon the ghostly memory of the daytime garden is hidden in the shadows. It is then that we give up and go indoors because our human eyes can no longer make out any details in order to enjoy or to be safe in the landscape.

If you are anything like me, this just will not do. If the air is sweet and warm (and the mosquitoes well munched by bats and frogs) then I want to be outside. I want to enjoy a meal in the evening air and a late night stroll in the garden with all its nighttime sounds and fragrances. If I am forced in by rain or insects, humidity or chill I want to gaze out into the garden while I am dutifully doing the dishes or just passing by a darkened room.

Recently I read a collection of essays by Mary Oliver and poems by Stanley Kunitz - both were landscape enthusiasts. It was within their words that I was introduced to the idea that a garden is like a good book. It is a composition of elements (words) that form an idea (story) and ultimately provide an experience. There is a left over hum that I get when I read a good book. It is the same when I have the opportunity to experience a well composed landscape.

A book is made rich by its depth of content: the descriptions of place, time, characters and events. The landscape is also defined by its depth of content: the presentations of form, texture, color and illumination whether by sun or moon or artificial means that together offer full dimension.

Lighting the landscape is not so new, but certainly lagging behind the madness for gardening that has fueled the take off of this industry. Thus far it has been reserved for commercial applications; restaurants, hotels and corporate office parks, or for the wealthy. We in the more modest set are left wanting, or attempting lighting with inexpensive packaged sets that barely last a good winter, or going for the solar sets that offer little more than a ghoulish glow.

The good news is it doesn't have to be that way anymore. While I can not profess the cheap solutions for design or installation of landscape lighting, I can make a case for its value. Just like the value of well planned design, healthy nursery stock and careful soil preparation for planting, lighting deserves focused attention and a real budget. If it is valued in this way, price should not be the sole determining factor for its use.

Lighting serves three main purposes in the landscape; safety (security), task (function) and sparkle (ambiance). Each purpose overlaps and has the potential to deepen the usefulness and enjoyment of the landscape. Lighting can be of two types - line voltage and low voltage. Simply put line voltage is the level of electricity used to power most lights and appliances in the home as well as the ubiquitous outdoor lamp post light. Low voltage is a lower level of electrical current dropped by feeding line voltage into a transformer that lowers it from 110 to 12 volts. This electrical shift not only makes these systems safe it also makes them extremely versatile and economical to run over the more energy consuming line voltage systems.

Rob Dischino of Nightscaping which supplies low voltage lighting design and equipment says "the heart of any low voltage system is the transformer." It is the transformer that determines the controllability and the safety of a low voltage lighting set up, so going with a reputable unit is a key factor in the success and longevity of your system. Nancy Goldstein is the owner of Nancy Goldstein Design, LLC a lighting design/build firm out of Marblehead, Mass and she agrees whole heartedly and suggests that the placement of the transformer is equally important to consider. "Sure, if it is to be inside it can be in a plastic casing, but outside units should be stainless steel and for my work which is often near the ocean we go with a marine quality unit." Other considerations in choosing a transformer are its capacity; how many lamps it will support, how spread out they will be and whether the system will be expanded in the future. Thinking ahead when choosing this central piece of equipment will determine not only the safety and controllability but also the longevity and expandability of the system.

A quality low voltage system can be pricey to install so think long term and consider phasing in an installation so that the best transformer can be part of the picture now. "Start with your safety or security lighting first," says Dischino "these are the most useful fixtures to have in place." Goldstein suggests "Know your client. Ask how long they will be in the house. Notice their age, older folks need more light for the same tasks." She wisely points out that understanding the unique character of your client as well as their landscape will further drive the complexity of the system. That may mean more illumination or it may mean more hands off controls.

Lighting design seems simple at first blush, but it is important to understand why any object or area is being lit at all. What is the reason? Ask the client why they want lighting. As obvious as this may sound it is really the central purpose that needs defining. The mistake that often happens when the "why" is not defined is that everything gets lit up! "Only when your try to replicate what the garden looks like in the day," says Goldstein "will you over light." The garden as we know it during the day light hours fades away into the shadows of evening darkness. Lighting must have purpose in order to read well at night. This purpose is achieved by prioritizing the functional aspect of the design and by overlapping techniques.

Safety first - means be certain that all circulation in the landscape can be visible to navigate in the evening hours. For some that may mean a few well placed fixtures on a front walk - not placed like a runway - but tucked into the garden or along step ways so that only the illumination and not the source is seen. For others this may mean every path, step and walking surface needs light to address active evening use of the landscape. This becomes an opportunity to layer safety lighting with functional lighting and to work in more complex controls where lamps can be turned off and on or dimmed at will.

Function or task lighting -means providing light so that activity may continue into the night hours with ease. Light from above to emulate the moon's glow might light up a driveway, illumination from below to wash a patio with pools of light will add hours to sitting in the night air, or illumination coming from under a set of stair treads not only makes the steps easy to see, but also outlines the architecture to create a wonderful evening picture.

Sparkle - Goldstein says lighting for ambiance or sparkle is one of her favorite techniques - it's like icing on the cake. This kind of lighting is necessary to take the nighttime landscape to the next level. Trained in theatrical lighting design Goldstein understands the richness of illumination that is well placed for effect alone. Her low voltage lighting scenes show off art that in the day is barely noticed, echoes a city sky line with grace and works with light indoors to show off architecture while enjoying the night air. "Successful landscape lighting satisfies safety, security and aesthetic criteria thru informed use of the controllable qualities of light." says Goldstein. To her success means understanding all the layers that can be worked with to maximize the evening experience.

One of the hurdles faced in the residential landscape is the presence of the over-common line voltage lamp post fixture. "A decorative colonial style lamp post and fixture can be quite pretty as an architectural feature in the landscape by day," says Dischino "but the light doesn't do much more than produce uncomfortable glare at night." His advice is to put the lamp on a dimmer so that it can be used as a subtle decorative feature. Goldstein jokes that poorly placed lamp posts are like "glare bombs on a stick" and suggests that just because the fixture can handle three 60 watt bulbs doesn't mean this wattage should be used. Try using three 15 watt bulbs to get a subtle decorative glow and then incorporate functional low voltage lamps to apply safety illumination in the most useful places. "Never rely on a lamp post for safety or to navigate by," advises Goldstein.  Dischino suggests that "there is usually no need to tell clients that their existing lighting is all wrong - especially if they are attached to the fixtures (which they often are)." Instead suggest that these line voltage units can be layered into the landscape as decorative elements and then offer to properly light the way with discrete more controllable low voltage lamps.

This hurdle is many times worse in commercial and municipal settings where the prime purpose for lighting is often security. Throwing more light around isn't the answer, but is often the result. The International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) has a mission in place "to preserve and protect the nighttime environment and our heritage of dark skies through quality outdoor lighting." IDA is taking its mission to municipalities all over the globe in an effort to raise awareness and implement standards for outdoor lighting that will reduce light pollution in the form of vision robbing glare, light trespass into neighboring properties and sky glow which reduces our ability to see the beautiful night sky and stars. Simple measures such as proper placement and aiming of lamps, installation of shields or frosted glass and the use of full cut-off fixtures promote better visibility and energy conservation along with the intended security.

The residential setting isn't without its negative contributions to light pollution, especially in closely built communities. Lamp posts are huge culprits in producing glare and light trespass. By dimming these lamps to a decorative level and using low voltage lamps for safety and functional lighting the desired illumination will be produced without harsh side effects.

Collaboration in the design of lighting systems for residential, commercial and municipal projects is where success in sure to be had. Landscape designers, architects, electricians and builders who all hold the same goal of improving the use of outdoor environments should work as a team to ensure a positive outcome. One interesting attribute of outdoor lighting is its value when viewed from inside a properly lit indoor space. Normally, when the lights are on indoors all you can see is a reflection of the room in the glass - the black mirror effect. When indoor lighting is properly designed it will not produce that harsh mirroring effect so the illuminated landscape outside can be appreciated. Placing interior lamps on dimmers can also have the effect of lessoning this reflective quality. If flexible controls are worked into the exterior lighting design, allowing for adjusted illumination levels, this too will aid in appreciating outdoors scenes from the indoors. "The most important thing I learned in theatrical lighting," say Goldstein "is each profession, each job is important in getting a scene right." Through the collaborative efforts across the professions involved in design and construction wonderful scenes will emerge.

Landscape lighting has value in all climates and regions by extending the appreciation and use of outdoor spaces into the evening hours. Darkness may come early in your region for much of the year. Heat and humidity may keep you indoors when the sun is up. It may be a long work day that keeps you hustling rather than relaxing in a garden. When a landscape is well lit for easy access, comfort and a little sparkle it has the power to bring a deeper level of joy, relaxation and appreciation to all that have the opportunity to engage it. No matter the price, the value is there and with a well planned design, sturdy equipment and professional installation, low voltage lighting can be available on some level to every garden enthusiast.

About The Garden Continuum, Inc.

Established in 1991 and incorporated in January 2000, The Garden Continuum is located in Medfield, MA and is a reputable landscape development firm staffed with certified individuals that are committed to the green industry and the landscape process. The Garden Continuum provides exceptional professional services in landscape consultation, design, installation and fine gardening. We specialize in bringing beauty, tranquility, and relaxation to your life through your landscape.

Monique Allen, CLD, MCLP

Monique Allen is the President and CEO of The Garden Continuum. She is a Certified Landscape Designer and a Massachusetts Certified Landscape Professional.

A graduate of Northeastern University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Entrepreneurship, Monique began in the Green Industry as a freelance gardener in 1986. She attended horticulture study at The Arnold Arboretum, in Jamaica Plain, MA and at the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, in Boston, MA. She went on to complete Graduate Design Studies at Radcliffe Seminars at Harvard, (now The Landscape Institute).