Solar lighting for outdoors spots

Bring a little light into the night landscape by harnessing the power of the sun.

With solar lighting kits, you can quickly illuminate a path or highlight a plant without having to hire an electrician for hardwiring lights or trying to string together a do-it-yourself low-voltage light system.

Today's solar lights come in many styles. There are lanterns that hang from stakes, tabletop lamps and even lights you can drive over.

Yes, we said drive over. Grandin Road's Solar Pathway Lights (www.grandinroad.com, $99 for a set of four) are durable pods that can be set to flash or provide a solid light along a driveway. The inch-high lights are designed to handle being driven over or stepped on.

If you want to illuminate a dark corner, look for a kit with a solar panel that can be set up in maximum sun while the light is in a shady area.

Gardener's Supply Co. even offers a motion-activated solar light. The Solar Security Light (www.gardeners.com, $80) with a built-in motion detector can be mounted where it is needed (near a shed, walkway or garage), while the solar panel can be set up 19 feet away.

When shopping for solar lights, read the packaging carefully. Some lights cast an amber glow, while others have a white glow. For a uniform look, you'll want to buy lights with the same hue.

Compiled by Judy Averill, digs editor