I can't say if it would interfere with the bloom. A little light definately wouldn't but I'm not sure about a spotlight on them for most of the evening. It would interfere with the effect of the flowers, though. The blossoms unfurl as the sun sets (literally before your eyes) and just GLOW in the moonlight. I can't imagine being washed in a floodlight would give them that same glowing effect. They are wonderful next to a deck or patio where you might be sitting in the evening and can really enjoy them. They still might be nice where you are thinking of. They are pretty easy from seed so one pack should get you several plants to play with in different spots. -Ais.

Thanks for the thoughts, Ais - very appreciated. Looking at it tonight, the light wash isn't all that bright (or maybe the bulb's dying!). And I could always unscrew it, or maybe redirect it slightly if they do seem to have a photosensitivity. This wall is just outside the sunroom and I virtually live in that room until deep chill weather sets in.

My thought process is that the foliage on the trellis will break up the wall starkness by day and the Moonflowers by night will ensure that I don't ever go to sleep :o)

Thanks again ...........

Zigzag - I had wanted to welcome you as a new member here, and as a newcomer to NC... but your page is not set up to allow anyone to email you via the email link. Welcome! Please tell us more about you and your garden on your member page when you find the time. I, too, grow Moon Vine successfully in an area where there is a bright light that shines all night from my neighbors backyard streetlight. I still cant figure out why they would have such a thing, but it hasnt effected my night-bloomers such as Evening Primrose and Moon Vine. PS: I am in Lewisville NC, where there are very few gardeners. Where are you?

If it's a spot where you can enjoy them in the evening then go for it! They are beautiful. But unscrew the light some evenings and watch them unfurl as the sun sets. You can literally see them opening, they open that fast. It's amazing. -Ais.

Thanks again to Ais and to Quirk for the info - I so look forward to next summer w/my new Moonflowers ! - and for the warm welcome. I'll try to not be too much trouble here "wince> :o)

Quirk, I'm also from south of Boston, so we have a few notes to compare and Ais, you're right here in Raleigh (me too) so we can at least comiserate over the over-building, over-development (and planticide) our area is seeing these days.

I'll try to back up and add to my member page later tonight - may need to do a refresher on the 'practice board' as I'm pretty computer stupid.

I have been reading here for a couple of years, but was unsuccessful in joining in until recently - bad skills and balky ISP. Now y'all might be hard pressed to shut me up !

Thanks again for the warm welcome !

You have a birthday coming up,zigzag. Happy Birthday ! , if I'm not around on the special day.

Awww, shucks, Dottie ...... thank you !

You know, I read the other day that one must be careful to plant Mexican bush sage where it is dark at night (away from artificial light sources) because its blooming is triggered by the length of nighttime darkness. I wonder if there are other plants - even apart from the night bloomers discussed above - affected this way.

There is a big light (belongs to the county) at one end of my yard. Luckily my Santa Barbara sage is behind some trees from that, is in the dark at night, and is blooming beautifully but lots of other things (that are not doing all that well) are right there in that spotlight! Of course, that is only one possible problem they may have...lack of water, poor soil, etc., etc. But I do wonder if that is something I should pay more attention to.