by Vikki McMahon

Created on: February 24, 2009

Picture a cozy terrace on a warm summer evening. Night-blooming flowers with their brilliant, white blossoms and dark green foliage shimmer in the waning light. The fragrances drift lazily, mingling scents of nutty spices and sweetness. Showy vines trail at will from arbors and trellises, providing a perfect frame for the garden walk beyond. Your perfect Caribbean escape? A relaxing long weekend at your favorite bed and breakfast? No, this beautiful retreat can be as close as your own backyard with a moonlight garden. By following a few simple guidelines, you can create a retreat you look forward to returning to night after night.

It is easy to create a moonlight garden, overflowing with gorgeous nighttime blooms. Plants that are suitable for this type of garden are naturally hardy. They are not affected by the scorching summer sun, their blossoms remaining protectively closed until dusk. Most night-blooming plants are highly fragranced, so no matter which you choose, your evening will be filled with the relaxing scents of summer. Moonlight gardens are also advantageous to those who work long hours during the day. Upon arriving home, most daytime blooms are closed up for the night, but plants in a moonlight garden are just reaching their showy peak and ready to be enjoyed.

The following are flowering plants and shrubs suitable to include in a midnight garden.

*Casablanca Lily Showy, white blooms that grow up to 48 inches. Hardy in zones 5-9.

*Climbing Hydrangea A high climber with lacy, white blooms. Hardy in zones 4-7.

*Evening Primrose White, pink, and yellow blooms that grow 2-4 feet. Hardy in zones 4-10.

*Four o'Clocks Trumpet shaped blooms are available in a multitude of colors. Hardy in zones 8-11.

*Gardenia A shrub with small clusters of creamy, white blooms with dark green, glossy evergreen leaves.

*Mock Orange A perennial shrub with white, orange-scented blossoms that grows up to 8 feet high. Hardy in zones 4-8.

*Moonflower A prolific climber with huge white blooms. Hardy in zones 10-12.

*Night Cereus A cactus with white blooms. Hardy in zones 9-12.

*Night Gladiolas Creamy yellow blooms with a spicy fragrance. Hardy in zones 7-10.

*Night Blooming Jasmine Evergreen shrub with white blooms that grows 6-10 feet. Hardy in zones 9-11.

*Night Phlox Annual bloomer with a honey, almond, and vanilla fragrance.

*Lamb's Ears and Silver Sage Reflective foliage with a silver nighttime shimmer.

Mix and match these plants to create a stunning addition to your garden. Whether you want a quiet place to relax after a long day or a beautiful backdrop for entertaining, night-blooming flowers will add an elegant, surprising touch to any backyard landscape.

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