As one of our signs at SLS so eloquently states: “Don’t you dare buy a bubbling rock without installing night lighting! It’s like an ice cream cone without the ice cream!”

Many customers put a lot of thought and effort into creating a beautiful haven in their backyard but unfortunately don’t include night lighting. Night lighting creates a magical look – it’s actually my preferred time of viewing my backyard. Rocks are softened, leaves gently sway in and out of the light, and fish swim through the light in the pond. Lights create an ambience not found anywhere else and elegance is brought to the landscape.

Here are a few reasons you need to make night lighting an essential part of your landscaping:

• Provide focal points in your outdoor living area – up-light a tree or water feature
• Provide a safe environment for you and your family – lights keep intruders at bay
• Properly installed/placed lighting adds value to your home and property
• Extend living spaces – now you can use your outdoor area into the evening
• Set your home and landscape apart from the rest in your neighbourhood

A tranquil garden, softly illuminated with night lighting, helps to establish the landscape as your haven, your shelter, your place to unwind and relax.

Imagine sitting in your backyard, a favourite beverage in hand, the moon in the sky and the beauty all around you softly illuminated with nightlight. Your plants and garden ornaments are showcased.

Easy? Yes very easy. Technology in the lighting field has increased substantially. It’s simple for a homeowner to install outdoor LED (high efficiency) night lights not only in the garden beds and around pathways and decks, but also in and around water features. These new lights are capable of being constantly submerged.

Lights come with various forms of attachment – a spike in the ground or a swivel base, which can be camouflaged with soil, mulch, or decorative stone. Lights are plugged into transformers that have dawn to dusk automatic on/off cycles or easy 4 or 6 or 8 hour “on” features. If you are an early riser, have them come on in the morning also, just so you can benefit from the beauty of your backyard while enjoying your first cup of coffee. What a wonderful way to start the day!