Friday, July 13, 2007

Moonlight Garden



There is nothing more beautiful at night than looking up at the Moon and looking down at its audience. A symphony of beautiful flowers that stand at attention, when the night comes upon us! Whether you would like an Herb Garden, a Medicine Wheel Garden, or maybe a Fairy Garden, these themes can help you with ideas to bring Mother Earth alive, not in your imagination, but in your gardens and your hearts. A Moon Garden is all about flowers that bloom at night. They are generally white, but can be in other pale shades. Depending on the hardiness zone you live, there are many flowers you can plant for your Moon Garden.
Listed below are just a few of the flowers suggested for your Moon Garden. Only some of these bloom at night, but the rest of them make wonderful additions to the Moon Garden.
Have fun!!
Bee


GIANT MOONFLOWER, A fast growing vine related to the morning glory, this annual may climb to 10 feet. Tightly closed by day, its white flowers open at dusk to release a sweet fragrance. Flowers can be seen very clearly in moonlight.

PINK EVENING PRIMROSE, A lovely border plant growing to 12" with silky, rose colored blooms that deepen to a butter-yellow center. Opens in late evening to release soft fragrance.
JASMINE TOBACCO, Sweet scented alata A very sweet scented flowering tobacco with pure white trumpet shaped flowers 3-4" long and 1-1/2" wide that open in evening. Very free flowering. Fall sown seedlings make great pot plants for growing during the winter. A good Moon Garden subject as flowers open at night and show up well in moonlight.

WHITE ANGEL'S TRUMPET TOLOACHE, Excellent Moon Garden plant with large showy pure white trumpet shaped flowers up to 8" long that open at night. Sometimes fragrant. Large spiny seed pods. One of the largest Angel's Trumpet.

SOUTH AFRICAN DIMORPHOTHECA ,This is the famous flower from the flora of the South African countryside. Grows only 12" tall with milky white blossoms so pure they appear to be luminous. Shows up very well at night under moonlight.

PURE WHITE SPIDER PLANT, A delightful spider plant that grows about 3 ft. tall. Very different, as it has pure white glistening flowers. Pre-chill seeds for about a week before sowing, should germinate in about 2-3 weeks.

PURE WHITE AFRICAN DAISY, A fast growing African daisy growing to 10 inches with large, pure white flowers with black eyes. A slightly spreading plant.

FRAGRANT BRIDAL CARNATIONS, An unusual carnation with pure white, absolutely symmetrical, very fragrant flowers. A must for any flower arrangement.

WHITE DILL AMMI MAJUS, A beautiful plant growing to about 36 in. tall with clouds of white flowers often in clusters 6 in. or more across. Excellent as a cut flower or as a filler in bouquets. Seeds need light to germinate. Seedlings will appear in about two weeks.

SUPER WHITE CANDYTUFT FLORIST'S STRAIN, This flower will stand out in any arrangement. Beautiful large trusses of brilliant white flowers on sturdy stems. Very easy to raise. Seeds germinate in about 10 days.

WHITE LEAVED DUSTY MILLER, The foliage of this plant is very white and fine leafed. Good compact growth. A different looking dusty miller that will stand out in your garden. Sow seeds on surface, germinates in about 2 weeks.

PURE WHITE SALVIA, Grows 10-12 inches with dark green foliage and pure white flowers. Very unusual and very early flowering.

PURE WHITE CONEFLOWER ECHINACEA VAR., A lovely pure white version of echinacea purpurea that bears fragrant white coneflowers. Very nice cutflowers.

SNOW WHITE CARNATION DIANTHUS CARYOPHYLLUS, Probably the whitest carnations you will ever see. An excellent cutflower, they also make wonderful bedding and border plants. Have spicy-sweet fragrance.

FEVERFEW MATRICARIA CAPENSIS, A native American herb with sprays of 1" single white daisy like flowers. Yellow centers are flat. The flowers are said to repel bees and a tea made from the plant is said to relieve headaches.

MAYWEED MATRICARIA CHAMOMILLA, A gorgeous plant with fern-like foliage and white daisy-like flowers. The leaves make a relaxing bed-time tea. Four O'Clocks These are fragrant flowers that come in several colors. Their trumpet shape blooms open in the evening around four p.m. and close in the daylight.