The Garden After Dark The Garden After Dark is a limited-edition botanical silk scarf inspired by flowers seen after sunset. Set against a deep black ground and filled with rich, dramatic colour, it captures the moment a familiar garden becomes quieter, stranger and more theatrical than it appears by day. The scarf began in the garden after sunset. The flowers were still the same, but the darkness had altered them. Petals appeared deeper in colour, leaves disappeared into shadow and individual blooms seemed almost luminous against the black. Without daylight to soften the scene, the garden had taken on a private drama of its own. The Garden After Dark grew from that transformation. It is a scarf about night colour, shadow and the unexpected beauty revealed when daylight has faded. Only 5 pieces are available worldwide. Once sold, The Garden After Dark will never be reprinted. Product Details Material: 100% Mulberry Silk Twill, 18 momme Size: 90cm x 90cm Finish: Hand-rolled hems Edition: 5 pieces worldwide Collection: The Thackray Botanical Collection Design: Original floral artwork set against a deep black ground Price: £250 Availability: Available to reserve Delivery: Within one month of ordering The Story Behind the Scarf A garden at night is not empty. It simply reveals itself differently. During the day, flowers are softened by open light. Their colours sit naturally among green leaves, visible stems and the wider garden around them. After sunset, those familiar relationships begin to disappear. Greens retreat into shadow. Reds grow more intense. Pinks appear warmer and individual petals emerge from the darkness before dissolving back into it. A bloom that seemed gentle in daylight can become bold, strange or almost otherworldly. The Garden After Dark was inspired by standing outside in the evening and noticing that change. The house was quiet, the air had cooled and the flowers appeared to belong briefly to another world. Seen against the night, they no longer felt like decoration. Each bloom had a presence of its own, held for a moment between visibility and shadow. The scarf preserves that particular view of a garden: familiar in its forms, yet transformed by darkness. When the Garden Changes Night removes much of what allows us to understand a place at a glance. Paths recede, boundaries disappear and the background becomes uncertain. Without the whole garden visible, attention shifts to isolated fragments: a flower catching the last of the light, the outline of a stem or a sudden area of colour suspended against black. That partial view gives the garden its mystery. What cannot be seen becomes as important as what can. The design uses darkness not simply as a background, but as part of the image itself. The black creates depth around the flowers and allows their colour to feel more saturated, dramatic and alive. This makes The Garden After Dark different from a conventional floral scarf. It is botanical, but not delicate or pastoral. Its flowers belong to evening, carrying the richness and intensity that appear only when the brightness of the day has gone. Each Thackray scarf begins with words. A story becomes an image, and the image becomes silk. Here, that story is carried through black, colour and floral form: the private theatre of a garden after dark. Why It Makes a Special Gift The Garden After Dark was created for someone who loves flowers but prefers something richer and more atmospheric than a traditional floral design. It will appeal to garden lovers, botanical art collectors and those drawn to deep colour, strong contrast and black silk accessories. The design celebrates flowers without making them feel soft or predictable, giving the scarf a distinctive presence when worn. This is not simply a floral gift. It is a limited-edition piece of silk artwork inspired by the transformation of a garden at night. It makes a thoughtful birthday, Christmas, Mother’s Day, anniversary, retirement or thank-you gift for someone with a confident, individual sense of style. Its darker palette also makes it particularly suited to evening wear and to those who prefer dramatic accessories over pale or traditional botanical patterns. Made from 18-momme mulberry silk and finished with hand-rolled hems, the scarf is designed to be worn and kept. With only 5 pieces available worldwide, it is also genuinely rare. Once the edition has sold, the design will not be produced again. How to Wear The Garden After Dark At 90cm x 90cm, The Garden After Dark is a generously sized square silk scarf that can be folded around the neck, draped over the shoulders, tied in the hair or styled as part of an outfit. The deep black ground allows the floral colours to remain prominent as the silk is folded. Larger arrangements can be displayed as a statement, while narrower folds reveal fragments of colour against the darkness. Its dramatic palette makes it especially effective with black, neutral or evening clothing, although it can also bring depth and contrast to brighter colours. When it is not being worn, it remains a collectable piece of original textile art from the Thackray Botanical Collection. Frequently Asked Questions Is The Garden After Dark a good gift for a garden lover? Yes. The scarf was inspired by the transformation of flowers after sunset and will appeal to someone who loves gardens, botanical artwork and the changing atmosphere of the natural world. What inspired The Garden After Dark? The scarf was inspired by looking at flowers in a garden after sunset and noticing how their colour, form and atmosphere changed against the darkness. How is this different from a traditional floral scarf? The Garden After Dark uses a deep black ground and rich, dramatic colour rather than a light or traditionally pastoral floral palette. It presents the garden as atmospheric, mysterious and theatrical. Is it suitable for evening wear? Yes. Its black ground, saturated floral colour and substantial silk make it particularly well suited to evening clothing, although it can also be worn during the day. Is the scarf part of the Thackray Botanical Collection? Yes. The Garden After Dark belongs to the Thackray Botanical Collection, which explores flowers, gardens, natural forms and our emotional connection to the living world. Is The Garden After Dark a limited-edition scarf? Yes. Only 5 pieces are available worldwide. Once the edition has sold, The Garden After Dark will never be reprinted. What is the scarf made from? The scarf is made from 100% mulberry silk twill in a substantial 18-momme weight and is finished with hand-rolled hems. What size is the scarf? The Garden After Dark measures 90cm x 90cm, making it suitable for wearing around the neck, over the shoulders, in the hair or styled in several other ways. How much does The Garden After Dark cost? The Garden After Dark costs £250. How long will delivery take? The scarf is currently available to reserve, with delivery within one month of ordering.