There is great enjoyment in hosting or attending a summer backyard BBQ with family and friends. The delicious food, cold refreshments, relaxing atmosphere, and engaging conversation help to define a great American pastime. Numerous resources exist online for BBQ recipes, cooling drink favorites, accompanying side dishes and yummy deserts. Preparing a perfect backyard spread is…

Our homes have been working double- and triple-duty during the pandemic as offices, schools, day-care centers, and gyms. It seems that now, more than ever, we dream of “getting away” from our homes that we have associated with stress, chores, and deadlines. While many businesses and venues are reopening, there are still plenty of valid…

out-door  adjective  “done, situated, or used out of doors”  car-pen-try  noun  “the activity or occupation of making or repairing things in wood”  Outdoor carpentry has become a specialty skill in the construction trades. It combines the craftsmanship and artistry of woodworking with the knowledge of exterior climate effects on wood and fasteners. Proper design and construction of structures for the outdoors requires professional knowledge and specialized experience.…

In our continuing Outdoor Living series of blog articles, we share with you some practical advice on how to enjoy your time outdoors, especially in your own backyard. Hopes of returning to a normal life after the COVID 19 pandemic evokes a sense of excitement this spring. As a result, families are spending even more…

What a year this has been, navigating through all the COVID-19 restrictions, quarantines, and social distancing. Recent studies point to an increase in consumer spending on outdoor home improvements and amenities. Swimming pools, hot tubs, fire tables, bicycles, and even outdoor furniture was difficult to locate by mid-summer as a result of the increased interest…

Much of what we do at Night Light revolves around landscape elements with an emphasis on trees. Our landscape illumination designers utilize these elements to effectively create a unique illumination plan. Trees provide us with the form, structure, texture, and color that we highlight after dark.

Who would think that something as simple as providing a layer of mulch around your landscape plants could save them from dangerous conditions throughout the year? As we enjoy the hot summer days of the Midwest, we must be reminded that our plants are exposed to the sun and heat every day. Although they are…

The technological advances that have been made with the improvements in Light Emitting Diode (LED) fixtures and lamps are not to be ignored. We have all experienced the benefits of switching from traditional to LED light bulbs and fixtures. These advantages include; energy efficiency, eco-friendly, lower heat emissions, instant-on with no warm-up, dimmable, wide color ranges and longer-lasting bulbs. The lower energy consumption alone has demonstrated how significant LED advancements have transformed the lighting industry.