Ghost mushrooms (Omphalotus nidiformis) are bioluminescent fungi that glow green at night. They are native to Australia and Tasmania, but have also been found in India.
with different sizes and shades of lighter spots. The Polka Dot plant and Gold Dust Dracaena have wid- er leaves with large spots that reflect flecks of light in the darkness. The greens of these leaves also add levels of shadow, but some plants do have dark grey and even nearly black fo- liage. Purple basil is a wonderful ed- ible plant to grow in a moon garden for adding a little shadow and aroma. >> Fragrance Fragrant flowers and other sweet- smelling blooms, like honeysuck- le and jasmine, add a lovely aura to your moon garden. They also at- tract both day and night pollinators. Moths and bats are active during the
evening and after sunset, and their activity provides invaluable pollina- tion for vegetables, shrubs, herbs and other flowering and fruiting plants. Flowering tobacco is a unique plant that smells slightly of jasmine and flowers at night. Although bet - ter for warmer climates, gardenias are heady and bloom bright white. genetically-modified bioluminescent plants are becoming popular, there are some plants that naturally give off light. A few mush- rooms, such as the Foxfire fungi, do glow in the dark to attract pollinat- ing insects and spread their spores. Additionally, Tillandsia, a fine- >> Glow Although
leaved, silvery-green tropical air plant, has a compound on its leaves that, when exposed to UV light, trig- gers a light reaction. The glow is brief but exquisite. On a final note, remember as an organic gardener to choose non-ge- netically modified plants, natural in - puts and compost, and incorporate edible and pollinator-friendly plants into your garden. And, to fully enjoy your night garden, install benches, granite stepping stones, solar-pow- ered garden decorations, or even a tree swing. N
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