Botanica Atlanta Landscape Design

If you are looking for inspiration to create a really unique outdoor holiday lighting display in your landscape this year, the 29th Sapporo White Illumination is currently on display in Sapporo, the capitol city of Japan’s Hokkaido Prefecture, located in the northernmost portion of the main island. This fantastically artful installation is on exhibit every November through mid-February in downtown Sapporo. While most of these examples are too grand a scale for the Atlanta landscape, the concepts can still be applied for an elegant and colorful holiday lighting display.

This effect is achieved by using different “gels” (tinted acetate layers) on flood lights. If you have deciduous ornamentals in key focal points at your home or business, consider adorning them with tinted light for the holidays.

Photo courtesy of Sapporo Tourist Association

You can find gels online by searching for “theatrical light supply”. This is a stunning way to feature your landscape in the holiday display, rather than just having trees and shrubs act as armatures for miniature lights. And with some seasonal adjustments to the colors, your flood light system can also be used to celebrate Halloween, Easter, July 4th or any event.

Photo courtesy of Sapporo Tourist Association

For the most powerful statement, spray paint the reflector portion of the flood bulbs with black heat resistant paint in order to eliminate any backlighting.

Photos courtesy of The Haunted Driveway

The above photos illustrate, from left to right: The bulb without the paint, the bulb with the paint, and which part of the bulb to paint.

Light Sculpture: Wrap individual light strands around 9’ bamboo stakes or, defoliate bamboo on the front of a stand that is visible from the street or a key window in your home. This concept will be most successful if wrapping five or more stakes. The greater the number of illuminated stakes, the more effective the statement will be.

Photo courtesy of Sapporo Tourist Association

I have also seen dead trees, and those whose removal due to disease or re-design is planned for the spring, painted and wrapped with miniature lights. If you paint a tree, be sure to spread an old tarp below beforehand. You may also selectively prune before painting to modify (clean up) the overall form. Do not paint a tree that you want to survive!

Does anyone have any unique holiday lighting ideas for the landscape to share?  Please share them here!