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!
For scent:
Jasminum officinale (Common Jasmine)
A deciduous climber with very fragrant, white flowers in summer and early autumn. They are admired for their perfume, vigorous growth and graceful appearance.
Lonicera periclymenum ‘Graham Thomas’ (Honeysuckle)
A large twining deciduous climber with oval, dark green leaves whitish beneath and clusters of fragrant white flowers which soon turn to buff-yellow followed by red berries in autumn. The best yellow scented Honeysuckle.
Lonicera periclymenum ‘Belgica’ (Honeysuckle)
A vigorous deciduous climber with paired ovate leaves and a profusion of fragrant red-flushed white flowers, ageing to yellow, in early summer, followed by red berries in autumn. Suited to coastal, cottage and informal gardens we supply ours on trellises.
Mock Orange. A beautiful flowering plant which is a member of the hydrangea family. Known for its large, showy and highly-scented flowers that bloom in the summertime, it’s relatively easy to care for and does not require much maintenance.
Philadelphus ‘Manteau d’hermine’
Also known as Mock Orange. A compact deciduous shrub with small ovate leaves and fragrant flowers creamy-white that form in clusters in summer. On warm evenings the blossom fragrance floats on the breeze. Perfect for a small garden or spot where border space is limited.
Philadelphus coronarius ‘Aureus’
An upright mock orange with foliage that is yellow while young, maturing to apple green. With fragrant, single blooms it is ideal for planting in a large container or in the ground near a seating area.
Trachelospermum jasminoides (Star Jasmine)
A vigorous, evergreen, woody climber which can reach between 8-12m in height. With twining stems, glossy dark green, oval leaves, often turning deep bronze-red in winter, it’s a wonderful addition to any sunny garden. Clusters of highly fragrant, small white flowers smother the foliage from mid to late summer. A highly recommended climber for screening in an area where the fragrance can be enjoyed at its most it is an ideal choice for pergolas and trellis around seating arrangements.
It’s a tough, vigorous climber so tying in and pruning is recommended to keep in shape.
Trachelospermum jasminoides
To glow in the evening light:
Warm whites
Hydrangeas come in all shapes and sizes and their dramatic round or conical flower heads look stunning in mid and late summer.
Magnolia grandiflora ‘Gallisoniensis’
An iconic evergreen tree renowned for its large, fragrant, white flowers that bloom sporadically throughout the summer, it adds dramatic beauty to any landscape. The glossy, dark green leaves are complemented by a brown underside, creating visual interest year-round. Hardy and low maintenance, it’s a timeless favourite for both formal and informal gardens.
One of our favourites, this is a real statement/feature tree. Large cream coloured petal-like bracts effectively look like flowers which smoother the tree in June creating an unmistakable display, resulting in strawberry like fruits that appear alongside beautiful autumn colour.
This large shrub/small tree is vigorous and very free-flowering from a young age. Small clusters of tiny, greenish flowers appear in summer surrounded by large, showy, white bracts, followed by fleshy, deep pink strawberry like fruit. Its dark green, oval leaves turn red and orange in autumn. A highly recommended addition to your garden to add interest.
A tall, vigorous cultivar of Mock Orange with highly fragrant, double, white flowers nestled among dark leaves that turn yellow in Autumn. On warm summer evenings the delicate scent of orange-blossom floats on the breeze.
Silvers
Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘Silver Queen’
An elegant evergreen shrub known for its variegated foliage and upright growth habit. Its oval, glossy green leaves are edged with creamy white margins. In late spring, it produces small, fragrant, dark purple flowers, adding a delicate charm. This versatile shrub is low maintenance and suitable for hedging or adding colour to the border.
A distinctive evergreen tree renowned for its aromatic foliage and attractive bark. Young leaves appear round and silvery blue before transforming into lance shaped grey-green leaves with a silvery sheen, contrasting with the peeling bark. Small white flowers appear in clusters in the summer.
Cooler hues
A very popular compact, herbaceous perennial with violet-purple flowers from summer to autumn.
A beautiful, perennial plant known for its stunning clusters of vibrant blue flowers. Blooming in summer, the trumpet-shaped flowers rise on tall, slender stems, creating an impressive display above the plant’s narrow, strap-like green leaves. It thrives in moist but well drained soil in full sun and is perfect for borders or containers.
Lavandula angustifolia (English Lavender)
A compact, bushy shrub with fragrant pale to deep purple flowers in summer.
A tall herbaceous perennial with lilac-purple flowers that appear in summer. Perfect for bringing height to an ornamental border without blocking.
