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Lighting for a tree? Lanterns?

16 years ago

We live a mile down a very dark dirt road and although we have entry lights and an arbor light and porch lights, there is still an area of our driveway where someone could conceivably back into our catalpa tree. If there are just a few people here, I don't think there's much of a risk of this happening, but there's a large party later this month and with cars parked all down the driveway I worry about someone not seeing the tree.

I saw a great picture in this month's "Cottage Living" magazine which showed a tree hung with many old-fashioned looking lanterns. It was gorgeous, but I worry about the safety of lit candles. I tried a couple of solar lanterns from Home Depot, but in the branches of a tree they didn't get enough light during the day to give any discernable glow at night.

This area would be very difficult to wire for electricity as it would require a VERY long trench. Any other ideas? I've seen some "flameless candle lanterns" that run on batteries, but I wonder if they'd provide much light. I don't need permanent lighting on the tree, but when there's a gathering here I always feel like I have to stand outside and warn people to notice the tree. It's SO dark here at night.

Any suggestions?

Eileen

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Comments (7)

lucy
16 years ago
How about a string of LED Xmas lights in the tree - I think they'd be harmless (though please double check!).
quirkyquercus
16 years ago
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pineresin
16 years ago
Agree with Quirkyquercus - rent a few of those things, and maybe some of those battery-powered flashing yellow lights used when road repairs are being done.

Resin
daesaflgatorfan
16 years ago
I have solar powered landscaping lighting under an oak tree in the back yard. To insure they get plenty of sunlight, I set them out in the middle of the yard daily. Each evening, I return them under the tree, where they look great!
alabamatreehugger 8b SW Alabama
16 years ago
What about some of the solar lights that have the separate charging panel? You could put the lights in the tree, but put the solar panel at the edge where it would get more light.
Dibbit
16 years ago
Your present lights could work if you exposed them on your lawn on the day (hopefully sunny) of the party, then moved them back to the tree.

Gardener's Supply has several lights that come with a 15' cord to a solar panel - I don't know if that would give you enough room or not?

There are oil-fueled lamps/flares, both that sit on the ground (which may be run over at the end of the evening - been there, done that) and which are on stakes - most are large enough to burn for 6-10 hours on a filling. Tiki torches are another possibility. Lee Valley has railroad style oil lanterns, which pose not much fire hazard. If you could get glass jars with metal hangers, they would lessen the fire hazard of candles - put a couple of inches of sand in the bottoms for stability.

And there are battery-powered, LED, stick-up lights (similar to the 'hockey-puck' ones for under a kitchen counter), which might work. They wouldn't be weather-proof, of course. I think I would avoid the battery powered X-mas tree light strings - the battery lasts usually only a few hours, and there are less than 20 lights per string.

Granted, most of these would have to be placed, maybe filled or batteries checked, lit, and then removed at the end of the evening or in the morning, but they would supply light to the tree, and give you piece of mind.
beckbunch
Original Author
16 years ago
Great ideas! Thank you.

I did try the solar lanterns out in the sunshine during the day, but they still didn't give out much light.

I bought some solar spotlights and they seem to be much better. I may stick with that, but also I'll check out Gardener's Supply for the solar lights with the cord.

Thanks, Eileen

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