Impatiens: Diane Webb/istockphoto.com

About Franklin Park Conservatory
1777 E. Broad St.
Columbus, Ohio 43203
614-645-8733, 800-214-PARK

ADMISSION*
$10 for adults
$8 for seniors and students
$5 for children ages 3 to 17
Members and children under 2 FREE
* All exhibitions are included in the
general admission price

HOURS
Tuesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Wednesdays 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Open holiday Mondays
Closed Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day

HOLIDAY HOURS
The Conservatory is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Martin Luther King Day, Presidents' Day, Easter, Memorial Day, July 4, Labor Day,
Columbus Day, Christmas Eve, New Year's Eve,
and New Year's Day. Thanksgiving Eve hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

evening splendor

By Barbara Arnold

Busy lifestyles resulting from job schedules and family or social commitments limit the time we can spend sitting out in the garden, often leaving the garden to be enjoyed only at twilight. In developing your garden, you should consider the effect of the light during this time of day to maximize your time there. Evening gardens use three main plant elements: white or lightly colored flowers, silver and gray foliage, and fragrance. Think about vantage points in the garden, so that the reflective qualities of its components can be best displayed.

At dusk, white and paler colored flowers reflect what little light is available, almost making them beacons. In the glaring light of midday these flowers wash out and fade into the background while the deeper colors of red and purple are easily seen. At night the red and purple appear almost black while the white and light-colored flowers shine brightly, making a stark contrast. This combination ensures the colors that seem brilliant during the day will later let the bright white flowers take center stage as the sun goes down.

Here is a list of flowers for your evening garden:

• Blue Star Creeper (Isotoma or Laurentia fluvilatilis): a nice ground cover with tiny pale blue flowers that look like stars
• Bugbane or Fairy Candles (Cimicifuga): a perennial with white flowers like fuzzy candles
• Evening primrose or Sundrops (Oenothera): a perennial with flowers of yellow, white or light purple, the flowers can be seen opening at twilight
• Four-o’clocks (Mirabilis): a self-sowing annual with trumpet-like flowers that open in the early evening releasing a delightful fragrance
• “Annabelle” Hydrangea (Hydrangea aborescens): a shrub with large white flowers on new wood
• Impatiens (Impatiens): an annual that works great in shady spots in the garden; comes in lots of colors, so pick the lighter ones
• Moonflower (Ipomoea alba): a vine with large white flowers that last only one night but also give off a pleasant scent
• Yucca or Adam’s Needle (Yucca filamentosa): a plant with sword-like foliage and blooms on tall spikes in mid-summer; pollinated by moths

Moonlight is reflected off of silvery-gray foliage, just as it is from flowers of a similar color. Plant leaves are also a great way to add texture and interest to the garden, plus the abundant foliage and greater surface area of the following plants better serves the purpose of mirroring light than the use of flowers alone. Just remember not to skimp on regular green foliage, as it is needed in daylight as a backdrop for the light-colored flowers.

• Ghost Fern (Athyrium ‘Ghost’): a hardy fern with silvery upright fronds, a perfect addition to the “haunted” evening garden
• Hostas (Hosta): a perennial for the shade garden; look for a variety with large white variegated foliage for the best effect
• Lamb’s Ear (Stachys lanata) a perennial with soft fuzzy silver leaves; look for the big-leafed ones, as these tend to stay more clumped
• Lavender (Lavandula): in addition to its flowers, it has bright silver foliage and a relaxing fragrance
• Licorice vine (Helichrysum petiolare): a great annual for a container that has slightly fuzzy foliage and comes in silver
• Morning Light Maiden Grass (Miscanthus sinensis): a hardy ornamental grass that grows 4 to 5 feet tall with variegated foliage that shines in any light

Intoxicating perfumes floating on the nighttime air are another benefit of the evening garden. These pleasing fragrances do serve a practical purpose though, as an attraction for night pollinators like moths. It is best to place the following plants where this pleasant feature can be enjoyed – close to where you will be, like the deck or patio.

• Alyssum (Lobularia maritime): has a sweet, pleasant fragrance
• Angel trumpet or Angel’s Earrings (Brugmansia) a tropical plant with large, pendulous trumpet-like flowers that release a delightful fragrance; however, note that this plant is extremely toxic
• Flowering Tobacco (Nicotiana) a summer annual with sweet smelling trumpet-shaped flowers
• Mockorange (Philadelphus coronarius) a compact shrub with fragrant, double white blooms in spring
• Heliotrope (Heliotropium): a purple or white-flowered annual that smells of vanilla
• Summersweet (Clethra alnifolia): a dwarf shrub with glossy green foliage and fragrant white flowers in summer.
• Sweetspire “Henry’s Garnet” (Itea virginica): a shrub with fragrant white flowers in early summer

Think about some simple accessories such as a gazing ball or a grouping of mason jars containing twinkling tea light candles. Paint the trellis or a couple of chairs white for more punch. Add some artificial lighting with low voltage landscape lights spotlighting a tree or a path, or even a string of lights to add a festive feeling to the garden. Moonlight illuminates plants in both flowers and foliage, making a garden experience that is only achieved at night. Other sources of natural light will be found in your garden too, as the season brings the flickering of fireflies.

Barbara Arnold is horticultural designer at Franklin Park Conservatory. To comment on this article, e-mail info@ourohio.org