London - There’s a line in The Great Gatsby which seems to capture perfectly a summer garden party. “In his blue gardens, men and girls came and went like moths among the whisperings and the champagne and the stars.”
But no matter how blue your garden or how starry the sky, you can still create atmosphere in your outdoor space that might just bring to mind the mood as described by Scott Fitzgerald in his famous opus: clandestine, magical and full of promise.
The most upmarket schemes - with underlit plants, spot-lit walkways and illuminated sculptures - will be costly. But there is still a lot you can do cheaply to bring life and light to your garden throughout the year, even in the depths of winter.
Patrick Clarke, design director at landscape and garden company Marcus Barnett, (marcusbarnett.com) thinks that a summer garden should be flexible and not over-lit.
“Summer evenings - with gentle light fading away into the evening - call for soft light sources.”
That means lighting a particular area, such as where you are sitting or dining, using a simple, hidden light source, if possible, sited above.
“The last thing you want is heavy light taking over.”
Interior designer Abigail Ahern agrees. “Never eliminate shadow,” she says. “It’s a mood-lifter and adds mystery.”
Dimmer switches are essential and it is important to put lights on different circuits, so you can turn lighting down or off and be more specific with what you are illuminating. This also means your scheme will continue to work as the light changes throughout the year.
If you’re after a quick fix, then hurricane lamps are a brilliant and inexpensive way to create mood. Plus, as the flame is contained, you can hide them amid foliage.
On still evenings, such as the ones we have been enjoying this week, candlelight works wonders. Candle chandeliers hung above dining areas (if you are lucky enough to have a well-placed branch) will give a romantic feel.
And, of course, now is the moment for tea-lights in just about any vessel you can lay your hands on.
Plants can also be light-giving in their own right.
“Evening primrose is the most obvious for creating luminescence”, says Mr Clarke. “The flowers open at dusk and you get almost a glow from their heads. They act like little lanterns and add fragrance.”
Star jasmine, with its evergreen foliage and white flowers that bloom throughout the summer months, is another good option.
“And grasses if gently lit will diffuse the light,” he says.
If you are using LED lights, it is worth investing in quality products by companies like Collingwood Lighting.
Desislava Georgieva, a designer at lighting specialist, Mr Resistor (mr?resistor.co.uk) suggests buying spike lights which have bulbs you can change. (A lot of spike lights are integrated, so you have to throw them away when the bulb dies). They are an easy way to accentuate particular features - be they planters, or even the textures on a wall.
“Spike lights that you push in the soil will uplight plants and create interesting shapes and shadows, as well as giving general light,” she says.
If you have a long garden, it’s best to highlight the perimeter, says Desislava - as that will give a sense of the size of the garden, subtly. Then emphasise seating areas, perhaps using wall lights which either provide up and down light or adjustable versions you can direct.
Make a virtue of seating by putting LED strips underneath floating benches, she adds. Small gardens will sing when you draw attention to individual features. “You don’t want your garden to look like a lighting showroom,” she warns. “The light should float.”
Planning is the key to a successful scheme, but there are plenty of decorative pieces you can turn to during a temporary hot spell.
Garden suitably lit, all that remains is to make yourself an icy cold gin and tonic.
Daily Mail