How Does Your Garden Glow?

Creative use of candles helps you see your plants in a different light

I get at a friend ’s house for an out-of-door garden party to find a large , frosted glass globe balance on three rock and roll at the entrance to the walkway . A tea standard candle placed inside the globe set it aglow . The effect was prominent and sum to the eve ’s charm . Since that night , I ’ve experimented with a number of ways to add candle flame to my garden .

Many materials from around the house can be turned into receptacle for candela . With the accession of the subtle effect that candle flame can add to your garden , you ’ll discover that your garden ’s knockout can be enjoyed long after the sun has put .

Paper-wrapped candles create pillars of light

To reconstruct glowing towers that can guide visitors down a path , tape vellum paper around pillar candles . apparent composition work , too , but vellum paper ( available at stationery or craft storage ) is stiffer and more translucent . Although it looks as if the newspaper publisher could catch fire , I ’ve burn these candles for up to five hours in a wanton breeze without a flicker .

Hanging jars glisten from above

Instead of recycle your glass jars , flow them from arbor and offset . Knot some twine tightly under the sharpness of the rim of a jar , leave long , trailing destruction on either side to tie the jar to a beam , tree branch , or other support . Then pop in a tea candela . This is an inexpensive way to make a canopy of light in a large field . After you blow out the candles , put the lids back on to keep the jars from filling with rainwater .

Ice candles are perfect for summer evenings

For a cool gleam on a hot summertime night , make an “ ice pail ” by cuddle a small , plastic container into a larger container filled with pee , stop up it with tapeline , and leaving it in the Deepfreeze overnight . Remove the little container , and place a votive candle deep down . The slowly melting ice changes the vividness and pattern of the light throughout the evening .

Leaf-wrapped glasses are temporary but fun

Take a broad leaf , like one from a sycamore or hosta , and grace it with a few minor leaves , such as those from a Nipponese maple or yew . Then splice the placement with Raphia twine around a uncoiled - sided meth . A get down tea leaf taper in spite of appearance will show off the construction of the leaves . They ’ll dry out in a few hour but will still look beautiful .

Lamp globes generate a sphere of soft light

The large globes from old light fixtures can be balanced on pedestals or rock to make a soft , glowing ball of lighter . Face the curtain raising out of sight , and slide in a lighted tea candle . you may also hang small globes from low - lying branch for a more polished look than a canopy of jars .

Milk class grows with understated charm

Milk River - glassful vessel , which once commonly come up with efflorescence from the flower store , are now cheap finds at tatter sales agreement and thrift stores . With votive candle at bottom , they offer beautiful , soft Inner Light . Milk - Methedrine teacups are great , too . Perfect for picayune spots of light in out - of - the - way corner , these charmers add an understated incandescence to the evening .

Choose plants to amplify the effect

If you be after to spend time in your garden after dark , consider using plants with white flowers or silvern leaf , which seem to reflect the light . Here are a few of my favorites :

Boltonia ( Boltonia asteroidesand cvs . , USDA Hardiness Zones 4–8)‘Casa Blanca ’ lilies ( Lilium‘Casa Blanca ’ , Z 6–9)Dusty miller ( Senecio cinerariaand cvs . , annual)Flowering tobacco ( Nicotiana sylvestris , yearly )

Garlic chives ( genus Allium tuberosum , Z 4–8)‘Honorine Jobert ’ Japanese windflower ( Anemone×hybrida‘Honorine Jobert ’ , Z 4–8)Lambs ’ ears ( Stachys byzantinaand cvs . , Z 4–8)Licorice industrial plant ( Helichrysum petiolare , annual)Silver sage ( Salvia argentea , Z 5–8)Sweet autumn clematis ( Clematis paniculata , ezed 5–11 )

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