Sunlight is Gold If you want your garden to thrive, you need to supply it with the lifeblood of all living things – the glorious golden rays of our sun. But, there isn’t always a sun to feed on. For at least 8 hours a day, it disappears beyond the horizon. And when the clouds settle in or the rain doesn’t stop, the sunlight can disappear for days at a time. And then there is the issue of building something more than just a swath of plants. The lighting, the pathways, the water corridors and the deck – these are all vital aspects of an aesthetically pleasing garden.