designing a landscape with light in mind

light is one of those things in a landscape that we can’t touch, plant, or build, yet it has the ability to completely change the way a space feels. when i first walk a property, i’m not only looking at the house, existing trees, grades, drainage, and where a patio might belong. i’m also paying attention to light. where does the morning sun come through the trees? which side of the house gets that beautiful late-afternoon glow? where do shadows stretch across the lawn? and where does the sun disappear at the end of the day?

those observations become an important part of every landscape design. plants, of course, have their own requirements for sun and shade, but designing with light goes far beyond simply choosing the right plant for the right exposure. ornamental grasses can become almost translucent when the sun shines through them. the peeling bark of a beautiful tree can suddenly become the focal point of a garden when caught by low evening light. flowers, foliage, natural stone, and even the movement of leaves can look entirely different depending on the time of day.

light also helps determine where outdoor living spaces belong. when we’re designing a natural stone patio, fire pit, garden path, pergola, or seating area, i like to think about how that space will actually be experienced. maybe it’s a quiet place for coffee that catches the first morning light, or a patio positioned to enjoy the last bit of evening sun. perhaps it’s a shady garden tucked beneath mature trees that becomes a welcome retreat on a hot summer afternoon.

this is especially important in landscape design throughout naperville, aurora, plainfield, yorkville, batavia, geneva, glen ellyn, wheaton, downers grove, lisle, and the western suburbs of chicago, where mature trees and changing seasons can dramatically alter the light throughout the year. a sunny spring garden may become deeply shaded once the trees leaf out, while the lower angle of autumn sunlight can illuminate parts of a landscape that feel completely different in summer.

whether we’re working on a complete landscape renovation, planting design, natural stone patio, walkway, retaining wall, outdoor kitchen, fire pit, or another landscape construction project, i believe the best outdoor spaces begin with noticing what is already there. sometimes the most beautiful element in a landscape isn’t something we add at all. it’s the way the morning sun filters through a tree, the shadows dancing across an old stone path, or the final bit of golden light falling across the garden at the end of the day.

light changes constantly, and that’s part of what makes a garden feel alive. thoughtful landscape design gives it places to land.