Tammy Algood of the University of Tennessee Agricultural Extension offers bright ideas on adding light to dark areas of the garden with light-colored or reflective objects. Gazing globes--bright, mirrored balls--were popular garden ornaments in the Victorian era and are again all the rage. Such globes can be used to reflect light into dark, shady corners of the garden. Add a birdbath, and you have an additional source of reflected light. Place water features where your plants will enjoy maximum benefit from the light. Mirrors are another wonderful source of additional light. Hang them on walls or broken in pieces and cemented in place on walkways or fences. Old mirrors are easy to come by at secondhand shops. Metal wind chimes and bells provide brilliance as well. They won't do much for your plants, but the light flashing on their metal surface will draw the eye to a dark spot. You can also lead the eye with anything light-colored or reflective--such as a white pot or a metal watering can Here are some tips for lighting up shady areas: Set light-colored objects in front of the area you want to draw attention to. They're especially effective when placed in front of dark green or burgundy foliage. Use broken pottery as a border along a garden path to add interest and an element of whimsy. Choose bright colors and push the soil around the base to secure the pieces. Use old flatware to hold plant tags. Forks and spoons reflect light and focus attention to dark places.
GUESTS :
Tammy Algood
UT Agricultural Extension Service
5201 Marchant Drive
Nashville, TN 37211-5201
Phone: 615-834-5162
Fax: 615-832-0043
Email: Talgood1@utk.edu
Website: http://www.utextension.utk.edu
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