Lights in the Garden can make a world of difference to the look and feel of your water garden.

The evening glow and the dark of the night can be enhanced in a garden by the use of subtle lighting, which adds mystique of this part of the day. The lighting up of the garden then makes it visible from inside the house and  seems to bring the garden into the house.  This extends the view from the house,  out into the lovely evening.

When lighting a garden, it is best  not overdo it,  by lighting up the whole garden. Too much light will detract  from the ambiance of the evening and the night settling over the garden. It  is far more interesting to have areas, where the light pools and other areas where there are shadows, and still others where the night  is complete. This not only brings in the aspects of yin and yang, dark and light, it can also ignite the imagination to wonder. Though too much dark might bring on a feeling of unease so discretion is needed.

Use lights to mark a path through the garden leading to a gazebo or a pool area. A meandering path,  is far gentler than a straight path, as the energy doesn’t move so fast along it. The same goes for long driveways, if the driveway is curved the energy  is far more favourable than a straight path. Feng shui really advises that straight lines are not beneficial as they speed up energy. Nature does not have straight lines so we would do well to avoid them as well.

When using lights in the garden, it is best to keep well below eye level to avoid glare when looking out. It is also a nice effect to have a light on the ground, under a tree lighting it up at night from below.  This gives it interesting shapes and creates a very lovely effect. Having low wattage small bulbs strung  in trees also has a festive party effect.  it is a good idea to remember that the electrical cables must not be wound around the trees trunk or branches, as the electrical current will kill the trees. Avoid nailing the light into the tree may also damage the  tree.  Then remember to put the light off later in the night as the tree does need a rest as well.

Another good use of lights in a garden is to ‘square’ off a building. this is done when the house is not a complete square and has a ‘missing’ space or spaces. The missing space is then incorporated into the building. symbolically. The light shines towards the house

Have lights up the sides of a steep driveway or stairway, to draw the energy up the hill to the house.

Lights in the south enhances the reputation of the family, and having lights in the south east improves finances.

Remember that light is considered fire in the elemental chart and the over use of it can ‘burn up’ the good effects of the garden. Balance is always a good way to do anything, and if we chose to create a dramatic effect it is best not to forget the opposite will help to achieve this i.e. bright lights need a dark area to make it stand out