For a dazzling display of over 250,000 lights, you’ll want to make a visit to “Winter Garden aGlow” at the Idaho Botanical Garden this season. Guests will be “wowed” by a sea of multi-hued color as they wander through the garden pathways and take in panoramic views of the Treasure Valley atop the hill in the Lewis and Clark Native Plant Garden.
According to Rebecca Needles, the lower garden manager and self-proclaimed “illumination expert, there is no real overall theme to their lighting display this year, but a few areas do have their own uniqueness. “The English garden features clear lights with a spattering of red and the Rose garden is mostly in green with bits of color thrown in.” She said they are especially delighted to feature the newly acquired “Boys in the Swing” sculpture that was transferred from the Boise Towne Square Mall, and placed in the Children's Garden November 3, 2009. The sculpture was taken a part and then put back together piece by piece during the transfer process. “This area is filled with lots of bright, colorful lights,” said Needles.
Since this event is the largest fund-raiser of the year for this non-profit organization, which uses the money to purchase plants, pay for new construction projects, pay staff and to keep the garden looking it’s best year round, work on the lighting project begins the first week of October. “We usually have 10 people a day working 8 to 9 hours right up until we open,” said Needles. “Some days we have groups of 15 or more who work 5 to 6 hours.”
Needles said that even though putting up the lights is a lot of work, their effort is repaid when they hear “ooh’s” and “aah’s” from the visitors.
Roaring bonfires, hot refreshments and holiday music round out the fun at this event, which is open daily until January 10, 2010. The event will also be open Christmas Day and New Year’s Day and Santa will stop by the garden December 18 through December 23.
The gates open at 6 pm each night with the last admission at 9 pm. The garden closes promptly at 9:30. Admission is $6 general and $4 for Botanical Garden members; children from 4-12 are $4 and children 3 and under are free.
Visit the garden at 2355 Old Penitentiary Road off Warm Springs Avenue in East Boise. To learn more about the garden’s upcoming events including their online auction of fun items that runs through January 11, visit their website at http://www.idahobotanicalgarden.org/
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