You have probably stayed at quite a few nice hotels over the years, traveling on business and vacation. One thing I’ve noticed around the hotel grounds and at those with lovely gardens and outdoor pools were outdoor solar lighting systems. That includes not just small walkway and flower bed accent lights, but also flood lights at stairs, walkway intersections, on patios and around pools. These are not only available for commercial use.
You can find solar yard lights at home improvement chain store websites, or the websites of neighborhood nurseries and garden stores. They’ll stock and advertise a wide number of of makes and models for outdoor yard use and have pamphlets and books about yard and garden lighting. Good items at fine prices are common.
An easy way to find manufactures and their websites, as well as articles on product selection, installation and landscape lighting ideas is to check out some of the regional (southern, western, coastal) living magazines. Many have websites too.
When I was walking around those hotel gardens in the evening or at daybreak, I thought, what a pleasant, almost artistic effect the lighting had. But I also mistakenly thought they were something you installed when the garden landscape project was done.
Another way of thinking is to consider the placement of your solar yard lights high on the design priority list. Then consider the flowers, plants or rocks that might look great in a particular lighted area.
Here’s a suggestion, if you’re getting started or considering re-doing an area of your yard. Buy a few solar walkway or lower powered accent lights and place them in areas you’re considering reworking. They are powered by a couple of AA or a 9 volt rechargeable battery. You just shove the spike into the ground and you’re done, no digging, no wires. Try moving them all over the yard.
Also think about medium powered accent lights around a patio, a sidewalk or in a darkened area of your yard. They will visually expand your yard at nighttime.
There are also solar flood lights for the entrance and driveway areas. These are available with motion detectors, timers or both, or just an on, off switch.
Buy a few. Move them around outdoors. Try them in different places. All sorts of ideas may come to you.
