If you want to bring out the very best in your garden this summer consider your outdoor lighting. While it’s important that exterior areas such as those areas directly outside the home in both front and backyard have fixtures to provide lighting for visibility and security (homeowners can choose from a wide range of exterior fixtures such as wall mounts, post lights); it is also a great idea to incorporate lighting into the garden. If you are thinking about doing so, remember that there are a number of options to consider.
Choices in Landscape Lighting:
Basically, there are three ways to add lighting to your garden: line voltage, low voltage and solar. And, for most homeowners, especially the do-it-yourself kind, the final 2, low voltage and solar, are, in most cases the best choices. Why? Both can be installed quickly and safely, without risk of electric shock. These lighting types are also low or no energy consumers. As far as lighting options go, with a low voltage system you can accent or create visibility lights to decks, pathways, stairs, and garden beds. You can do the same with solar fixtures; however, there may be less choice.
Garden Lighting Tip:
Keep in mind that you’re not lighting up a ball park at night and that excessive lighting can disturb your neighbor. Design your garden with lighting in a careful manner. Use fixtures to provide safety and visibility along paths and in areas of circulation and add other lights to gently highlight a small area, focal point, beautiful tree or shrub.
Results:
Imagine enjoying views of the garden at night during any season. When warmer weather arrives, a carefully lit garden can be as inviting for evening pleasures as any spot within your home. Fixtures such as pathway lights and lanterns can mark a strolling path and along the way, a beautiful tree is lit from below, casting interesting shadowing. There is so much that can be done to enhance and highlight the garden at night. Take a look at the selection of fixtures available and determine which form of lighting (solar, low voltage) you prefer.
Non Car Owner Tips: Car Rental and Car Share
Living in a rural area and not owning a car sounds impossible – living in an urban area and not owning a car sounds sensible. You know what we mean if you’ve ever tried to park in a busy neighborhood or had your car broken into. Urban car ownership can be a huge hassle and expense. But what about those occasions when you want to buy in bulk, like that annual trip to Costco, or when you want to get out of town where no bus or train will take you? The answer: rent a car and/or join a car share company.
The Evolution of Summer Camp
Since Frederick W. Gunn founded the first American summer camp in 1861 summer summer camps have have evolved from an outdoor wilderness experience where boys paddled canoes and built campfires...
Crafting a Lush Patio Oasis with Planter Screens
Creating a private, green haven on your patio is both an art and a science. With the right selection of planters and plants, you can transform a bare outdoor space into a secluded retreat. This guide will help you navigate the choices of plants and containers to achieve a lush screen that not only blocks unsightly views but also adds a touch of nature's serenity to your urban dwelling.
