Let there be Illumination!
Garden Pond Lighting
Pond Lighting Provides Much Illumination!
Those looking to make their ponds into a showplace for the guests and envious neighbors can make use of lighting to accent certain areas or to create a fantastic visual display. Or perhaps you like to watch your pond at night and just want to highlight a few areas for your own enjoyment. Pond lights come in many forms of color, changing colors, types, and power usage. You just need to decide what you want.
It is recommended that you sit down and plan out the desired placement for your pond lighting before heading to the store. Electricity and water doesn’t always make for the best combination so you want to be very certain of where your outlets are and what power expenditure is involved. Never attempt to use an extension cord to run power out to the pond for lighting or any other reason. It may be best to have a professional install outdoor outlets.
Koi pond owners like to show off the colors of their fish. Well placed lighting can be set under the water to catch the flashing of Koi’s scales. Or if you have particularly colorful lily pads you can set them off with lights around the ponds edging. Most underwater lighting uses a 12 volt halogen lamp which is relatively safe. The lights should be attached to a transformer that is marked safe for outdoor use. Do be sure to check for the UL and CSA listing on the transformer that states safe for outdoor use because not all transformers are created for outside and underwater use.
Solar technology has offered an alternative to pond owners who are reluctant to use electricity near their ponds. Lucky for us the technology is widely available in the form of outdoor lighting these days. Plus it creates a magical feel without the obviousness of cords and outlets.
You can find floating pond lights to place in your pond. During the day they will absorb energy from the Sun and once its dark a sensor switches them on. They usually come in a pale blue or the more normal white light. Depending on how much money you are willing to invest in your solar pond lights you may find that they last after dark for varying amounts of time. Some only retain a charge for a few hours after dark, others can stay lit the whole night. It depends on the quality of the system.
Other pond lighting systems may come with replaceable colored lenses. They are typically thin sheets of transparent colored plastic that can be slid in and out of a holder on the front of the lamp whenever you feel like a different color for a different mood. Using these lenses to set off the water coming from your fountain can really create a fantastic effect.
You can also set off the landscaping surrounding your pond. Place solar powered lanterns along a path that will lead you out to the pond so you don’t trip over yourself on the way there. Illuminate seating so you can make sure you aren’t going to sit on bugs, snakes or even a local raccoon.