Datura, a moonlight plant. Courtesy photo

BY BETSY COMLY
Vice President
Summit Garden Club

At the Monday, Feb. 6, meeting of Summit Garden Club, Judy Magelssen will present a program titled “Establishing A New Garden: Managing Your Expectations”. The meeting will be held at White Rock Baptist Church, 80 State Road 4, and will begin at 1:30 p.m. KN95 masks will be available to those who wish them.

Magelssen will present slides from her moonlight garden at the Los Alamos Demonstration Garden, showing it after one year and after two years.

Archaeologists have found that as early as 600 years ago, moonlight gardens existed in India – specifically at the Methab Bagh, which is adjacent to the Taj Mahal. They were developed so that people could walk the gardens at night when the heat was less oppressive. The red and other bright color flowers seemed to fade at dusk. Then, and on into the night, the white flowers and the silver and gray foliage reflected the light from the moon, and took over the show.  Los Alamos County, with its clear night skies, is a perfect place to add moonlight plants to the garden. White colored plants, plants that attract night pollinators, white hardscape, all can brighten up our gardens.

The “5-minute gardener” roundtable discussion will be about Spring pruning of roses, shrubs, and trees; handouts will be available.

Visitors welcome.

For more information, or to relay a question to our speaker, e-mail us at summitgardenclub@gmail.com.