There
is nothing more beautiful at night than looking up at the Moon
and looking down at its audience. A symphony of beautiful flowers
that stand at attention, when the night comes upon us! Whether
you would like an Herb Garden, a Medicine Wheel Garden, or maybe
a Fairy Garden, these themes can help you with ideas to bring
Mother Earth alive, not in your imagination, but in your gardens
and your hearts. A Moon Garden is flowers that bloom at night.
They are generally white, but can be in other pale shades. Depending
on the Hardiness zone you live, there are many flowers you can
plant for your Moon Garden. Just be sure to check for your particular
zone or call your local extension office. Listed below are just
a few of the flowers suggested for your Moon Garden. Only some
of these bloom at night, but the rest of them make wonderful
additions to the Moon Garden. I hope you get as much pleasure
from yours as I do from mine!
Giant
Moonflower
A fast growing vine related to the morning glory, this annual
may climb to 10 feet. Tightly closed by day, its white flowers
open at dusk to release a sweet fragrance. Flowers can be seen
very clearly in moonlight.
Pink
Evening Primrose
A lovely border plant growing to 12" with silky, rose
colored blooms that deepen to a butter-yellow center. Opens
in late evening to release soft fragrance.
Jasmine
Tobacco
Sweet scented alata. A very sweet scented flowering tobacco
with pure white trumpet shaped flowers 3-4" long and 1-1/2"
wide that open in evening. Very free flowering. Fall sown seedlings
make great pot plants for growing during the winter. A good
Moon Garden subject as flowers open at night and show up well
in moonlight.
White
Angel's Trumpet Toloache
Excellent Moon Garden plant with large showy pure white
trumpet shaped flowers up to 8" long that open at night. Sometimes
fragrant. Large spiny seed pods. One of the largest Angel's
Trumpet.
South
African Dimorphotheca
This is the famous flower from the flora of the South African
countryside. Grows only 12" tall with milky white blossoms so
pure they appear to be luminous. Shows up very well at night
under moonlight.
Pure
White Spider Plant
A delightful spider plant that grows about 3 ft. tall. Very
different, as it has pure white glistening flowers. Pre-chill
seeds for about a week before sowing, should germinate in about
2-3 weeks.
Pure
White African Daisy
A fast growing African daisy growing to 10 inches with large,
pure white flowers with black eyes. A slightly spreading plant.
Fragrant
Bridal Carnations
An unusual carnation with pure white, absolutely symmetrical,
very fragrant flowers. A must for any flower arrangement.
White
Dill Ammimajus
A beautiful plant growing to about 36 in. tall with clouds of
white flowers often in clusters 6 in. or more across. Excellent
as a cut flower or as a filler in bouquets. Seeds need light
to germinate. Seedlings will appear in about two weeks.
Super
White Candytuft
This flower will stand out in any arrangement. Beautiful large
trusses of brilliant white flowers on sturdy stems. Very easy
to raise. Seeds germinate in about 10 days.
White
Leaved Dusty Miller
The foliage of this plant is very white and fine leafed. Good
compact growth. A different looking dusty miller that will stand
out in your garden. Sow seeds on surface, germinates in about
2 weeks.
Pure
White Salvia
Grows 10-12 inches with dark green foliage and pure white flowers.
Very unusual and very early flowering.
Pure
White Conneflower
A lovely pure white version of echinacea purpurea that bears
fragrant white coneflowers. Very nice cutflowers.
Snow
White Carnation Dianthus Caryophyllus
Probably the whitest carnations you will ever see. An excellent
cutflower, they also make wonderful bedding and border plants.
Have spicy-sweet fragrance.
Feverfew
Matricaria Capensis
A native American herb with sprays of 1" single white daisy
like flowers. Yellow centers are flat. The flowers are said
to repel bees and a tea made from the plant is said to relieve
headaches.
Mayweed
Mattricaria Chamomilla
A gorgeous plant with fern-like foliage and white daisy-like
flowers. The leaves make a relaxing bed-time tea.
Four
O'Clocks
These are fragrant flowers that come in several colors. Their
trumpet shape blooms open in the evening around four p.m. and
close in the daylight.