It's the time of year when warm weather and long hours of daylight beckon us outdoors, and most of us are happy to answer that call. Time was when outdoor summer fun ended with the sunset. But thanks to technological advances that have made outdoor lighting both more affordable and more accessible, that no longer has to be the case.

The back yard barbecue, the garden party, and the friendly gathering around the fire pit can go on well into the wee hours in a yard that's as comfortably lit as the living room.

This summer, more people than ever are treating their gardens, back yards and patios as extensions of their homes, furnishing and decorating them as they would a room inside the house, and lighting plays a major role in the décor. Today's outdoor lighting plans range far beyond the simple porch light, taking into account aesthetics as much as security.

Thanks to energy-efficient, and cost-effective, low-wattage lighting, the average suburban home can enjoy the same decorative and ambient landscape lighting that was once reserved for upscale homes. With new wiring technologies that provide both flexibility and safety, the options for lighting placement are practically endless.

In the coming weeks, we'll be exploring these new trends in outdoor lighting and taking a look at the tools and tricks that are used to achieve various lighting effects. Whether you're looking to add security lighting to a dark corner of the yard, to highlight a feature of your garden, or to bring the comfort of the indoors out to the patio, we'll tell you what you need to get the job done without breaking the bank. So stay tuned in to this blog all summer long to learn all you need to know about landscape and outdoor lighting.