Moon Gardens -- Under the Stars

A Garden Secret: Petals & pollinators thrive under the night sky.

Most of us notice how gorgeous gardens are when the sun is shining, but how often do we see what a garden looks like at night? Between dusk and dawn, when moonlight illuminates the plants, visitors can enjoy unique insight into a garden’s personality. Night pollinators such as moths, native bees and bats are attracted to plants in a moon garden with white and pale-colored flowers that are intensely fragrant and produce a lot of nectar. As you walk through the moon garden, you will be able to watch these varied and industrious third-shift pollinators as they go about their important work.

 Excerpt from Birds & Blooms, May 17, 2023
https://www.birdsandblooms.com/

Quick Tips for Creating a Moon Garden for Pollinators

(From: Growing a Native Moon Garden: Best Native Plants to Grow for Nocturnal Pollinators - By Lauren Landers)

Moon gardens are typically composed of plants with variegated or silver-toned leaves and pale flowers that show well after dark. But if you want to attract nocturnal pollinators, also include as many night-blooming native plants as you can. Moon gardens don’t need to be big, but they should be located in a spot where they’ll receive an appropriate amount of sun for the types of plants you want to grow.

For a moon garden that dazzles, include as many of these design elements as you can:  

• Pale plants with night-blooming flowers. Plants with variegated or silver-toned leaves and pale flowers shimmer in the low glow of the moon. Extra pollinator points if those plants are native to your growing area!

• Fragrant plants. Colorful plants don’t show well after dark, but fragrant plants come alive when the sun goes down. Including plants with aromatic flowers and leaves in your landscape design will add more complexity and charm to your moon garden.

• A sound element. Trickling fountains or windchimes make gardens feel even more magical.

• A moving element. Windchimes technically count as a moving element, but so do tall ornamental grasses and other plants that dance and whisper in the wind. This can make moon gardens feel even more transportive!

To attract nighttime pollinators, remember to include these pollinator resources too:

• Water. Putting out a terracotta plant saucer filled with clean gravel and a bit of water can give small pollinators a safe place to drink. Or try another water feature option like a small fountain, bird bath, or drip irrigation system.

• Shelter. Pollinators hibernate in old leaf litter, so wait until spring to clean up your beds. You can also install a bat box, and grow plants with hollow-stems for stem-nesting bees and native conifers for fireflies.

• Safety. Keep pesticides out of your garden as these products affect pollinators too. Instead, opt for organic pest control techniques, like pest barriers, crop rotation, and companion planting.

Also, don’t forget to limit light pollution! Outdoor lights left on after dark interfere with the moon’s glow, but they also make it harder for nighttime pollinators to feed, mate, and avoid predators. Using blackout curtains and putting outdoor lights on a timer can help.

FOR MORE INFO

Moon gardens: A quiet oasis for pollinators working the night shift
Northern Virginia Bird Alliance
https://www.nvbirdalliance.org/news/moon-gardens-a-quiet-oasis-for-pollinators-working-the-night-shift

Organic Gardening: Growing a Native Moon Garden: Best Native Plants to Grow for Nocturnal Pollinators
https://zerowastehomestead.com/tag/moon-garden/

Enjoy the Backyard Benefits of a Moon Garden

Birds & Blooms
https://www.birdsandblooms.com/gardening/backyard-wildlife/backyard-benefits-moon-garden/?srsltid=AfmBOooX3lHSznQwTmXhWIfaW70FKB9xNRy7o_bFWAX5ctaKYJSp4FtG