Lexington, KY - By Ann Bowe | landscape columnist
I spend time in my garden as frequently as possible, given the crazy schedule of a landscaper. It is a pleasure to begin each day communing with my bit of nature. Later on, perhaps a brief afternoon break for a cup of tea shared with birds, butterflies and native plants will refresh my mind and spirit. And then, toward dusk, the garden has a special magic that is hidden during the heat and sunlight of the day.
During each garden visit, I notice that the character of the garden changes as the sun moves across the sky.
At sunrise the sun is at its lowest point in the sky. The light has to pass through a lot of atmosphere before it gets to us. As a result it is a soft and gentle light that sometimes seems a bit hazy. The hot colors -
yellows, reds and oranges -
really stand out in the glow of early morning. Pale colors look fresh and brand new.
By midday the sun's effects have intensified. The paler colors are diminished by this stark white light, losing the dewy youthfulness of the morning. As every photographer knows, pictures taken at this time of day will appear washed out. The hot colors still pop, but the paler colors that earlier appeared so fresh now fade into nothingness.
Then comes the quiet of the evening. The sun sinks lower in the sky, approaching dusk, and the light becomes luminous. The paler colors like lavenders and blues, and especially whites, glow with a radiant light - perfect for places where people gather in the evening.
Plants with translucent leaves like the Fireglow Japanese maple, placed so they are backlit by the setting sun, give the same effect as light through a stained glass window. The blooms of grasses are gorgeous when seen against the glow of the setting sun.
Sunlight also casts shadows, creating dim, cooler spots. Trees, large shrubs and structures give us shade, and the contrast between sun and shade provides additional interest in the garden.
Our gardens change over time. Perhaps we add a fence that shades the garden alongside it by mid afternoon. Our trees grow and once-sunny areas may now be shady most of the day.
The quality and intensity of light play a large part in determining what we can grow and where each plant will thrive.
Plant care tags tell us about sun exposure requirements. This is general information, not exact. The following definitions are the generally accepted standards for assessing sun exposure in the garden.
Full Sun means that the plant needs at least six full hours of direct sunlight in order to flower or produce fruit. Many of the sun lovers, such as roses, prefer some mid afternoon sun, which is more intense than the morning light. They are best situated in west or south facing exposures.
The terms Partial Sun and Partial Shade are often used interchangeably to mean three to six hours of sun each day, preferably in the morning and early afternoon. However, with partial sun labels, you should be sure that the plant receives at least the minimal sun requirement, if not more. If the plant wants partial shade, then it will need some relief from intense afternoon sun. It will enjoy the shade from a tree in the hot afternoon or should do well in a garden on the east side of your home where it gets two to three hours of morning sunlight.
Dappled Light or Filtered Light is the preference of woodland plants. Such plants are happy with very little direct sunlight, enjoying the diffused light glimpsed through an overhead canopy of trees and shrubs.
Deep Shade is found under evergreen branches where the light rarely, if ever, reaches the ground.
Before you select plants for your garden, it is important to spend some time there, assessing how much sunlight each area gets and at what time of the day. And don't forget that this assessment will change over time, as plants mature and create new shady spots.
Part of the pleasure of a garden is its changing nature. As the hours pass, and as the years pass, the garden transforms. It is art brought to life.