I can see it too on Google, without having to orbit and on "Street View," nothing's private these days is it?
I like bamboo, we had a clump in the border half way down the garden, I've no idea of the variety, but I dug it up twenty years ago. It came out as one clump about 18" across. I cut it up into small clumps of a few branches with a saw, the only thing I could get through it and planted them along the back fence. Over the years they filled out and became our "forest."
It hasn't spread much since, no more than a few inches, it's still only a foot deep. It's a bit "wimpy," it needs a supporting wire across it at about five feet or it will fall over.
We think it looks better than an "in your face" post and panel fence that's behind it.
We also have a black bamboo behind the pagoda. That's extremely slow growing. We've had it over ten years, it's supposed to be filling the corner and hiding that bit of the fence behind it.
My lawn looks rubbish here, not helped by neighbours' cats peeing on it. But it has greatly improved since May when I took this photo.
I can see it too on Google, without having to orbit and on "Street View," nothing's private these days is it?
I like bamboo, we had a clump in the border half way down the garden, I've no idea of the variety, but I dug it up twenty years ago. It came out as one clump about 18" across. I cut it up into small clumps of a few branches with a saw, the only thing I could get through it and planted them along the back fence. Over the years they filled out and became our "forest."
It hasn't spread much since, no more than a few inches, it's still only a foot deep. It's a bit "wimpy," it needs a supporting wire across it at about five feet or it will fall over.
We think it looks better than an "in your face" post and panel fence that's behind it.
We also have a black bamboo behind the pagoda. That's extremely slow growing. We've had it over ten years, it's supposed to be filling the corner and hiding that bit of the fence behind it.
My lawn looks rubbish here, not helped by neighbours' cats peeing on it. But it has greatly improved since May when I took this photo.
We have garden lighting in the form of outside lights at 3 doors so we don't break a leg on steps in the dark. I use a torch if I have to go down the garden at night to check the chooks or fetch some veggies. There are no street lights here and we have shutters on the windows so it's great for star gazing.
If we do sit outside at dusk we use candles or moonlight tho if I do ever get my pergola and seating area I may string up some fairy lights but they'll only be on when I need them.
I really dislike seeing unnecessary lights in gardens. If I'm inside I don't need outside to be lit up and floodlighting or highlighting plants and features is pure vanity and ecologically bad in so many ways - waste of energy and disruptive to nightlife.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast. "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
I like the transition from inside to outside to be as seamless as possible and that goes for the lighting. Nothing better than appreciating the beauty of the garden day and night. What a waste to not light up your beautiful garden at night! Unless your internal clock is in synch with your chickens.
Your lights are beautiful Doghouse. Our winters are long, especially here up north. That would raise my spirits just to turn those on now and then in the middle of winter (of course being mindful as you are not having them on every night) .
Well, yes, @Igrowfromseed, but your garden is also beautiful in moonlight and starlight. Even in almost complete darkness your eyes adjust and it is surprising what you can see. But on most nights, if you look upwards you should be able to see a display even more wonderful than the best garden. All our lights make it impossible to see this superb sight - what a waste and a shame.
I agree with @Obelixx too - just some basic lights for getting in and out the house, especially if you work difficult hours. Otherwise, it's unnecessary, and often harmful. If you live rurally, it's certainly vital to be safe, but we never used the outdoor lighting, that was present in the garden for highlighting specimen trees, when we lived there.
It struck me when they did a feature on it at Chelsea too. I wonder if they had any negative feedback on it?
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
The problem in suburban areas is that due to 'elf n' safety the level of street lighting has increased dramatically over the years. New forms of illumination have not increased electricity consumption that much so there's little additional running costs. (In our homes LED lights also reduce our own consumption)
In our road, the street lights at night, now make it very bright indeed. Some neighbours who have porch lights either side of their front doors like them to be on all night. Maybe they think it's added security.
This and the number of motorways with good lighting passing through "suburbia" means that it many areas it's never really dark.
Street lights could quite safely be turned off in the small hours. Anyone who needs to be about at that time should carry a torch. Drivers have headlights and can adjust their speed at night so they don't need motorway lighting. We do - no lights here on motorways or in our hamlet.
Leaving outside lights on all night is just a waste of energy and we are, after all, supposed to be cutting back on energy consumption to try and decelerate global warming.
Lighting up garden plants every night is sheer folly and vanity. Do it for special occasions by all means but not every night or even every week.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast. "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
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If we do sit outside at dusk we use candles or moonlight tho if I do ever get my pergola and seating area I may string up some fairy lights but they'll only be on when I need them.
I really dislike seeing unnecessary lights in gardens. If I'm inside I don't need outside to be lit up and floodlighting or highlighting plants and features is pure vanity and ecologically bad in so many ways - waste of energy and disruptive to nightlife.
"We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
It struck me when they did a feature on it at Chelsea too. I wonder if they had any negative feedback on it?
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Leaving outside lights on all night is just a waste of energy and we are, after all, supposed to be cutting back on energy consumption to try and decelerate global warming.
Lighting up garden plants every night is sheer folly and vanity. Do it for special occasions by all means but not every night or even every week.
"We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw