The new LCD solar lights are brighter, but they give off a very harsh blue light. I do not like them on plants, however, I have one lighting the butterflies on my wall because the wall is purple, and the blue light is OK.
I also gave up on solar lights. Now I use christmas lights from the $1 store. My uncle showed me how to use the puffy foam, insulation and PVC pipe to keep 'em dry. He used them to make fountain lights with, and also other lights. I wrapped the lights double around my arches, and they are bright enough to really light up the front garden!

GGG

I agree solar lights are usually a waste of money. If you have an overcast day all the worse. If you wire you yard properly you should have wires running in simple patterns that are easy to avoid, I believe you can also bury the wires in pvc pipe in areas you are especially concerned about.

natalie, do the regular lights, they are not that hard. You don't have to bury the cord, you can simply put mulch on top of it.

And do yourself a favor. Don't buy one of those kits in Home Depot. Go to Home Depot Landscape and get the professional ones. They are metal instead of plastic and easier to connect. We did kit lighting in the back, but got the professional ones for the front.

Also, get the biggest transformer you can afford and the thickest gauge wire.

Yes, it sounds like electrical lighting is my best choice.
Mulching the cords makes sense. The whole project was just scary to me. I was not comfortable to do it myself, and did not want to spend the money hiring people (I already spend a small fortune on my garden).

PVC pipe is a good idea, and I have never heared about HD Landscape. Will check them out, and ask about bigger transformer and thicker gauge wire (whatever that means).

Thanks!

~Natalie