North Bay Woman

S P R I N G 2 0 1 8 | NORTH BAY WOMAN 13 houses and old glass telephone insulators, turned rusty old steel and galvanized pots into hanging lanterns, and transformed acrylic rods into path lights. Leff wrapped a street tree in front of a client's house with colorful lights. "She wanted her guests to know exactly where the fun was and this wild tree lighting did the trick," Leff explains. "The guests arrived laughing." Of course, the most unexpected response to beautiful landscape lighting for clients is "the joy it brings," Pringle says. "It's often the last part of the plan and, so much, the most important. I think they are surprised that they have lived so long without it, and are happy to throw away their head lamps." Leff agrees. "When clients see their garden lit for the first time, the most common reaction is joy and they are often awed at how larger their gardens appear at night." Hot tips For Pringle, it's all about LED bulbs, rather than a built- in LED module or external driver, for long-term simplicity. "The bulbs will allow you to have the field flexibility with color temperature and beam spread," he explains. "And, they allow you to change a bulb yourself if need be in five to 10 years." Rose appreciates the innovation of LED bulbs, too, saying they cut power and replacement costs by an average of 85 percent. But, because they aren't as attractive as Halogen bulbs, he tries to give his clients the best of both worlds by applying a yellow translucent spray that is made for a car's headlamps for a "warm white" look. Leff likes the FX Lumiere system, which gives homeowners complete control of their lighting systems using mobile device apps. "Each light fixture's intensity, and even color, can be controlled separately," she says. "This eliminates the need for indoor switching and reduces installation costs." How much will it cost? According to Leff, expect to spend between $4,500 and $10,000 for a beautiful landscape lighting scheme. "The cost range depends primarily upon the quantity of fixtures. Much of the cost is due to the skill and labor needed to install the system correctly," she says. "For example, the wiring should not be visible and the connections need to be watertight and easily accessible for repairs." In most cases, says Rose, "the best approach to landscape lighting is low voltage lighting, not only because it saves money without compromising quality, but because it eliminates the risk of electric shock and is more flexible to adjust as your plants mature." But, he cautions, "since anyone can install low voltage fixtures, the key difference between companies is in the experience of designing and installing. He advises choosing a company that specializes in landscape lighting as it may be familiar with a wider range of fixtures from multiple companies rather than a landscape company that does everything, including lighting, may work with fewer brands. And, Pringle adds that hiring a talented lighting designer can save money. "Time and time again, we see the wrong fixture specification, placement and installation methods," he says. He specifies lifetime fixtures and "bullet- proof" installation for his projects. "We're just now starting to see clients who we haven't heard from in 10 years needing new LED bulbs." A product warrant is key, too. If you can't get a lifetime warranty on the fixture, and at least five years on the bulb, look elsewhere, he says. n Left to right; The use of water elements, plants and lighting make your backyard a nighttime showplace. – Photo provided by Leff Landscapes Associates Inc.; Tabletop terrarium artfully lit at night. – Photo by Andres Carnalla Resources Michael Pringle | illumigarden 35 Corte Madera Ave., Mill Valley | (415) 892-2000 illumigarden.com Louise Leff | Leff Landscape Associates, Inc. Petaluma | (707) 789-0150 lefflandscape.com Dane Rose | Mystical Landscapes 232 Bungalow Ave. San Rafael | (415) 455-9161 mysteicallandscapes.com

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