Let There Be Light!

Yes, Even in Your Pond
By Kelly Tunney

You conquered the morning drive on the way into work, managing to avoid three separate car accidents, only to come into work and find that the coffee maker is out for maintenance once again. Your day seemed to fly until you found yourself in one of those never-ending meetings, where you carefully balance your pencil between the bottom of your nose and the top of your lip, while others complain about theirs jobs and you wonder why you were even invited to the meeting. You dodge traffic to get home in enough time to slave over dinner and put the kids to bed. This is your time to relax, this is your time to sit in the backyard with a bowl of ice cream and a bucket of fish food – you can't eat in front of them without at least pretending to share!

We Know Your Pain
We've all had those days, and many times, we have five straight days of a hectic work and home life. Our saving grace happens to be that water garden we begged our spouses for last summer. "Greatest decision I've ever made," you think as you throw a blanket over your legs. Before you even finish your chocolate-chocolate chip ice cream, however, the sun sets and you start to get a little sad as you see your fishy friends fade away into the darkness. It was a good 15 minutes and you hate to see it go. After all, you don't want to exchange the warm glow on your pond's surface and the amazing sounds of water falling into the stream, with the annoying glare and loud noise of the television set.

Lights … Action!
Luckily, when you bought your pond last summer you decided to make an investment you'll never regret … lights! It isn't long before they flip on, revealing what you like to call, "your second water garden." Suddenly, there's a whole new world brimming with excitement when natural light goes dark and your submersible pond lights turn on. Sure, you could flip them on and off whenever you want, but you put them on a timer because you like the drama of wondering if you will be able to sit by your pond well into the night, watching the comings and goings of your fish. Boy do you love those lights!

They're Catching on!
You aren't the only one who has found the beauty of lighting up your outdoor area. Pond and landscape lighting is becoming more and more popular, according to Mike Young, a landscape architect from Smith Turf and Irrigation in North Carolina, who has been involved in lighting for over 25 years.

Famous American architect, Frank Lloyd Wright once referred to lighting as 'the beautifier,'" Young said. "With a lighting system incorporated into your pond, you can enjoy the beauty of your water garden day and night."

Young points out that over the past 10 years, low-voltage lighting has evolved into a sophisticated, professional, and highly sought-after home improvement. "It enhances the safety and appearance of your property and makes it more usable in the evening hours," Young added.

Getting Started
Now that you know you want your beautiful water feature to shine, how do you even go about finding your lighting source? Well, Young points to low-voltage, 12-volt systems as the way to go.

"Low-voltage systems are the most popular for two reasons," Young said. "They offer a wide range of lighting levels that can be tailored to your landscape and a 12-volt operation is very safe."

A typical low-voltage system consists of a couple of different components, including a transformer, timer, photo cell, fixtures, wiring, splices, lamps, and mounting hardware, such as stakes, deck mounts, or tree mounts.

Knowing What You Want
Now for those of you who have an annual, Christmastime contest with your neighbors as to who can bust a fuse first, National Lampoon-style, hold it right there! First of all, do you really want your house to be lit up like that year-round, and second of all, who's going to pay for your kids' college when all your money goes to your electric bill? According to the American Lighting Association, "The key to attractive outdoor lighting follows a less-is-more philosophy. Soft, natural light should mimic moonlight on the property."

Now that we have squelched your need for a light show, don't forget that bigger (and more) lights are not always better. If you feel that you can't be the judge on how many lights you need, contact your local pond builder or landscaper, and they should be able to help you lay it all out. If you plan on giving it a go yourself, there are a few things you may want to keep in mind

• How much do you want to spend? Try to decide your budget before being sold on anything during a professional consultation, or at the store. And don't be scared to ask how much it will cost to run your lights. Make sure you work a little wiggle room into the numbers however, just in case the salesman has an idea you just can't pass up!
• How will these lights fit your lifestyle? Where will these lights fit your lifestyle the best? Are you just going to light up your pond, or does your gazebo or deck need a little shine? Where do you spend the most time, and what part of your yard do you look at the most during the evening hours?
• What kinds of lights do you want? Did you know that there are different types of lamps? Some lamps have a warmer, yellowish color, while others have a bright, white color. There are even lights in warm red and green tones. There are lamps with narrow beams and lamps with wide beams, floodlights, and directional lamps as well. The options are endless!

Educate Yourself
Before going to your local retailer and picking the best and brightest lamps available, you'll want to do your homework. First of all, is there someone qualified to speak with you about lighting and the safety codes in your area? If not, do your own research and come prepared. The Electrical Safety Foundation (www.esfi.org) for example, is a great place to get information on lights and safety around your house. Who knows? You may even educate the salespeople so they can go on to help others.

There has never been a better time to light up your house and pond, according to the American Landscape Association. They have found that bulbs have improved over the years, with newer 65-and 120-watt incandescent bulbs providing up to 25% more light. The American Landscape Association also has some insight on fluorescent and mercury vapor bulbs. They say that compact fluorescent bulbs produce soft lighting, the highest energy savings, and last up to 10,000 hours. They also say that mercury vapor bulbs supply a strong, cost-conscious light with a cool color that can last as long as 24,000 hours – or six years burning dusk to dawn.

Inside the Pond
But what about lighting inside the pond? Can you just stick any kind of light down in there, or will you end up electrocuting your fish? Well, you wouldn't plug a light bulb into the socket and drop it in your bathtub, would you? All kidding aside, you shouldn't take that chance with your fish and other wildlife either. When it comes to the pond, submersible lights are the way to go.

"Submersible lights are specifically designed to be waterproof in order to keep water away from electrical components," Gared Bell, Product Development Coordinator for Aquascape Designs, Inc., said. "That way, you can be assured that you won't wake up to a fish fry in the morning."

When it comes to submersible lights, Bell recommends NurseryPro Products, designed specifically for the water garden. The NurseryPro MicroSpot™ Light is a powerful 20-volt, low-voltage light, with 15 feet of cord, an adjustable light stand, and five interchangeable lenses that come in clear, blue, green, red, and amber. They also sell this light with a 20-watt transformer, or in a three-light kit with a 60-watt transformer.

Bell's favorite submersible light just happens to focus on his favorite part of the pond … the waterfall. "NurseryPro's 10-watt waterfall light is great for a couple of different reasons," Bell said. "It's small, it has a flat base that makes it easy to hide, and it can be used in or out of water. Plus, the halogen bulb is wonderful for highlighting your waterfall."

Nursery Pro also offers a lily pad light that floats on top of the water and casts diffused light down into your pond. It's so realistic that it can be hidden in with your other plants.

Light It up!
You'd be surprised how much lighting can make a difference in your front and backyard, and there's nothing like spending more quality time by your pond in the evening hours. So if you're looking to stretch the enjoyment of your outdoor area, the time is right to look into lights!

For more information on lighting, check out the American Lighting Association on the web at: www.americanlightingassoc.com. The American Lighting Association is a non-for-profit organization, dedicated to educating the public about landscape lighting in the U.S. and Canada.