| Anyone who has ever visited a public garden will | | | | Anyone who has ever visited a public garden will |
| know that they are usually illuminated after dark. The | | | | know that they are usually illuminated after dark. The |
| garden designer will often use accent lights to | | | | garden designer will often use accent lights to |
| highlight specimen trees and shrubs, or to create a | | | | highlight specimen trees and shrubs, or to create a |
| certain mood or tone in the garden space. Such a | | | | certain mood or tone in the garden space. Such a |
| thing can be easily replicated by the home gardener | | | | thing can be easily replicated by the home gardener |
| who chooses to use solar lighting fixtures. | | | | who chooses to use solar lighting fixtures. |
| It is important to remember, however, that a lighting | | | | It is important to remember, however, that a lighting |
| fixture doesn’t disappear when the sun rises and | | | | fixture doesn’t disappear when the sun rises and |
| the loveliest bed of roses can be made ugly by | | | | the loveliest bed of roses can be made ugly by |
| several large and unpleasant spotlights stuck in front | | | | several large and unpleasant spotlights stuck in front |
| of them. This is something to always keep in mind | | | | of them. This is something to always keep in mind |
| when selecting and placing garden fixtures. | | | | when selecting and placing garden fixtures. |
| Fortunately, anyone who wants to add decorative | | | | Fortunately, anyone who wants to add decorative |
| garden lighting, but who also wants to retain the | | | | garden lighting, but who also wants to retain the |
| charm of their daytime garden can do so with the | | | | charm of their daytime garden can do so with the |
| many stylish and lovely solar powered lights. Because | | | | many stylish and lovely solar powered lights. Because |
| they are designed to be used strictly out of doors, | | | | they are designed to be used strictly out of doors, |
| solar fixtures are crafted from the same high-quality | | | | solar fixtures are crafted from the same high-quality |
| materials as traditional, hard wired fixtures. This | | | | materials as traditional, hard wired fixtures. This |
| means that copper, bronze and cast iron appear just | | | | means that copper, bronze and cast iron appear just |
| as frequently in the solar powered selections as in | | | | as frequently in the solar powered selections as in |
| the others. | | | | the others. |
| Garden lighting can encompass everything from | | | | Garden lighting can encompass everything from |
| beauty to security and solar lighting fixtures are | | | | beauty to security and solar lighting fixtures are |
| available for every need. There are sturdy and strong | | | | available for every need. There are sturdy and strong |
| lamp posts, motion detector fixtures and even | | | | lamp posts, motion detector fixtures and even |
| decorative strings of lights for porches and patios. | | | | decorative strings of lights for porches and patios. |
| The important thing for the gardener to do is | | | | The important thing for the gardener to do is |
| remember that the lighting should highlight and accent | | | | remember that the lighting should highlight and accent |
| the garden, but not be distracting. A good garden | | | | the garden, but not be distracting. A good garden |
| lighting plan takes into consideration the changes that | | | | lighting plan takes into consideration the changes that |
| occur throughout the seasons and will really | | | | occur throughout the seasons and will really |
| emphasize the well-developed areas of a yard or | | | | emphasize the well-developed areas of a yard or |
| garden. | | | | garden. |
| The great thing about choosing solar lighting for a | | | | The great thing about choosing solar lighting for a |
| garden is that the fixtures can be quickly and easily | | | | garden is that the fixtures can be quickly and easily |
| installed without disrupting the plantings in any way at | | | | installed without disrupting the plantings in any way at |
| all. Consider that traditional electrical fixtures would | | | | all. Consider that traditional electrical fixtures would |
| require wiring, which could mean digging trenches to | | | | require wiring, which could mean digging trenches to |
| bury the lines, which in turn could mean digging up | | | | bury the lines, which in turn could mean digging up |
| established beds and destroying roots. | | | | established beds and destroying roots. |
| Additionally, the appeal of solar lighting of any kind is | | | | Additionally, the appeal of solar spot lights of any |
| that it requires only the initial investment, and then | | | | kind is that it requires only the initial investment, and |
| operates entirely for free thereafter. The bulbs used | | | | then operates entirely for free thereafter. The bulbs |
| in solar lighting are usually LED, and they offer an | | | | used in solar lighting are usually LED, and they offer |
| average life span of roughly sixty to one hundred | | | | an average life span of roughly sixty to one hundred |
| thousand hours. This is compared to the standard | | | | thousand hours. This is compared to the standard |
| fluorescent lifespan of twelve to twenty four | | | | fluorescent lifespan of twelve to twenty four |
| thousand hours. | | | | thousand hours. |
| This means that solar garden lighting fixtures are free | | | | This means that solar garden lighting fixtures are free |
| to operate, require little to no maintenance, install | | | | to operate, require little to no maintenance, install |
| without disturbing the garden and are just as durable, | | | | without disturbing the garden and are just as durable, |
| lovely and sturdy as traditional fixtures. | | | | lovely and sturdy as traditional fixtures. |