Create a twilight garden

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There are many reasons why it’s hard to find time to enjoy your garden during the day (working a nine to five, looking after young children etc) but you might find that come early evening you have some time to yourself. Instead of swapping a computer screen for a TV screen, why not venture into your garden.

From late spring to early autumn, you can unwind and enjoy your garden from a different perspective, enter the twilight zone (!)

The magic of the inbetween

Have you noticed that there is something really magical about the garden at this time of day? The dappled half light, heat rising up from the warmth of the day heightening the sultry scents of Jasmine. Or perhaps it evokes memories of childhood fairy stories, or a scene from A Midsummer Night’s Dream. In many traditions, the period or inbetween time that exists between day and night is considered powerful. A time of reflection, vision and alchemy.

Planting

Think about scent as well as colour when choosing plants around your patio / seating area and the result will be a soothing evening sanctuary to unwind in.

Create seclusion with fragranced climbers such as Trachelospermum jasminoides (Star Jasmine) and Lonicera (Honeysuckle). White flowers will reflect the dusky moonlight really well, creating an effervescent glow. Ensure you have some darker green foliage (we love Magnolia grandiflora for this) included in your planting scheme to really make the white pop!

The sweet scented Philadelphus (Mock Orange)

For scent:

  • Jasminum officinale (Common Jasmine)
  • Lonicera periclymenum (Honeysuckle)
  • Philadelphus ‘Belle Etoile’
  • Philadelphus ‘Manteau d’hermine’
  • Philadelphus ‘Lemoinei’
  • Pittosporum Tobira (Japanese mock orange)
  • Rhododendron ‘Dorothy Hayden’
  • Trachelospermum jasminoides (Star Jasmine)
Greek getaway: Pittosporum Tobira (Japanese mock orange) will instantly add the scent of the Aegean to your garden
Philadelphus ‘Belle Etoile’
Lonicera (Honeysuckle)



Trachelospermum jasminoides

To glow in the evening light:

Warm whites

  • Hydrangea ‘Runaway Bride’
  • Hydrangea ‘Annabelle’
  • Hydrangea paniculata ‘Limelight’
  • Magnolia grandiflora ‘Gallisoniensis’
  • Philadelphus ‘Virginal’
  • Paeonia Itoh ‘Canary Brilliants’ (a buttery yellow hue)
  • Cornus kousa ‘Venus’
  • Cornus controversa ‘Green Carpet’
  • Cornus kousa ‘Pévé Limbo’
Hydrangea ‘Runaway Bride Snow White’
Hydrangea paniculata ‘Limelight’
Magnolia grandiflora ‘Gallisoniensis’

Silvers

  • Senecio (Angels Wings)
  • Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘Silver Queen’
  • Eucalyptus gunnii

Cooler hues

  • Salvia ‘Caradonna’
  • Agapanthus
  • Verbena bonariensis
  • Hydrangea macrophylla
  • Lavender
Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Black Steel’
Salvia nemorosa ‘Caradonna’
Verbena bonariensis