Garden/Landscape Lighting

[Armour]

I'm currently trying to make some improvements to my parents' front yard garden. I've recently laid some old, rustic J Price bricks along the edge of it, that had been sitting on their property for years, unused. Now I want to add some lighting to the garden that will illuminate it all night. I was wondering if anyone here has a green thumb and any background or experience in doing this sort of thing?

What I would like are some lights to be placed in along the edging, to light their flowers and plants, and possibly even the stone and brick facades of their house. Preferably, I would like lights that are wireless (so LEDs or solar power, I guess; any other options)? I would also like the lights to be beautifully designed (that is, no cheap looking, run of the mill, Home Depot type lighting). Can anyone recommend some sleek, contemporary lights to do such a job?

 

[Armour]

I apologize for the repetitive threads. My browser crashed while I was posting this and I wasn't sure if the thread had been created. Mods, can you please delete the duplicate threads? Thanks, and sorry for the trouble.

 

[44 North]

I'd say go with hardwired lights. Low wattage, and nothing too fancy or crazy, but I find garden LEDs to be a bit of a nuisance (tho I'm a bit weird like that). And you don't even have to do it true hardwired. You can buy a length of wire to create an extension cord that you can bury and connect to some covered lights (which you can make yourself or just buy). This would look way nicer. As for affordable attractive landscaping. Rocks are always good, and bricks. Sometimes ppl throw away granite bricks, or you can grab whatever you find on the Leslie Spit. Or next time you're up north you can get some rocks off the side of the road. Create a few beds, buy some mix packs of wildflower seeds to fill it in with (and which will reseed naturally for the following season), and you're good. Shrubs and trees are alright as well. If you want to be thrifty you can dig these up in the valley or whatnot. And if you want to attempt it, you can try digging up some ivy from a laneway that you can have grow along a fence or up a telephone pole. It may be getting a bit late in the season for most of these things though.

 

[junctionist]

Wired LEDs produce the brightest and most consistent light. They'll light up the yard and are energy efficient. Most solar lights will only provide an accent light, which isn't enough to light up the yard. Use spotlights to light up interesting features like a fountain, architectural elements on the house or trees. Use regular garden lights for planting areas. There are also special walkway lights which focus the light downward in one area.

 

[Armour]

I'd say go with hardwired lights. Low wattage, and nothing too fancy or crazy, but I find garden LEDs to be a bit of a nuisance (tho I'm a bit weird like that). And you don't even have to do it true hardwired. You can buy a length of wire to create an extension cord that you can bury and connect to some covered lights (which you can make yourself or just buy). This would look way nicer. As for affordable attractive landscaping. Rocks are always good, and bricks. Sometimes ppl throw away granite bricks, or you can grab whatever you find on the Leslie Spit. Or next time you're up north you can get some rocks off the side of the road. Create a few beds, buy some mix packs of wildflower seeds to fill it in with (and which will reseed naturally for the following season), and you're good. Shrubs and trees are alright as well. If you want to be thrifty you can dig these up in the valley or whatnot. And if you want to attempt it, you can try digging up some ivy from a laneway that you can have grow along a fence or up a telephone pole. It may be getting a bit late in the season for most of these things though.

I'm good for rocks. I actually do grab granite rocks whenever I'm up there.

I actually want to change the bricks I've laid around the garden edge (I'd love granite bricks, but red brick will do). When I put them in place they were wet and looked quite red. Once they dried, however, they looked more pink than I was expecting.

The Leslie St spit is a good idea, however, aren't most of those bricks pretty beat up and warped, due to the water rushing over them? Plus, once can't drive a car onto the spit, so how would I lug them back to my car?

I'm good for flowers. My mom already has a really beautiful garden, it just needs a little refining (some edging in the front yard) and lighting. The backyard rock gardens are lined with granite rocks that we gathered in Muskoka.

Already got some ivy at the side of the house. but my mom always rips it down, unfortunately, because she's afraid of raccoons climing up it and getting on the roof.

And Junctionist, I'm not really looking to light up the whole yard; just the gardens and maybe the stone facade in her front yard garden.

Thanks for the suggestions. Any recommendations for which lights you'd go with (pictures/links if possible)?

 

[Davidackerman]

Saw this Kickstarter plan where they are trying to build and underground park and illuminate it with Solar

https://www.kickstarter.com/project...derground-park?ref=HappeningNewsletterJul0615