Sun and Shadows in the Garden

The morning sun is such a welcome friend. I watch the rays stretch into the garden while brewing my morning cup of coffee. Which by the way was the plan from the start of this area of my landscape.

We often get all caught up in the beauty of a particular plant, or bloom or single characteristic of a tree or shrub, but a good master plan for the landscape considers what sun and shadows will offer the landscape when the garden is complete and mature.

You need to consider exposures of the sun when you design your garden or landscape. Where will the sun be and where will you be viewing the garden from? What will happen to the landscape when the trees have matured? Will the sun still shine through? Do you need or want it to? And what about the different seasons? What will your landscape offer when it's the dead of winter here in New England?

This is the Eastern border of my landscape, the towering white pines are quite large now and yet sun is still stretching through them. The shadows the pines cast are an art form and light show in themselves. On this particular morning there was a light misty fog in the air that was just lifting, providing the view of the sun's rays bouncing into the blue spruce. I had hoped when we planted the spruce next to the perennial garden nearly 18 years ago that this might be the finished product. I got lucky. Nature didn't hamper the plan with its own obstacles nor did the neighbor on their property next door.

Imagine the above photo without the 3 blue spruce, it would not have nearly the same effect. And the dwarf alberta spruce also has an impact on the image. They frame the rays of the sun. I'm no expert or even a novice on photography, but when I see an image that has an impact on me I research what it takes to reproduce it or create one with the same effect. Often the imperfections of the garden or landscape are just a gem not discovered. The tall pines have lost many of their lower branches in our New England winter ice storms, the blue spruce have thinned at their bases and the lawn, well it's always having some sort of issue, and yet, on this morning it all came together and harmonized into the perfect morning lightscape.

So, next time you're thinking about adding to your garden or landscape or removing from the landscape, stop and think about what it may mean to the 'big picture'. You can have a lot of fun with sun and shade in your gardens and landscape, so remember to think about them when you're designing or having someone do a design for you.


Truly a morning dance by nature! Enjoy!