Holiday Idea for Gardeners

A look at two of the leading botanical gardens and their special holiday events.

Bellevue Botanical Garden presents its annual awesome Garden d’Lights festival. It runs through December 31st. The botanical garden is transformed into a winter wonderland every Christmas. “Volunteers bundle strings of commercial grade outdoor lights into three dimensional flowers, shrubs, vines, and critters. In November, these creations are 'planted' in the Botanical Garden and, with a flip of a switch, this unique holiday garden blooms every evening from 5:00-9:30 pm.” Garden d’Lights has become a holiday tradition for many, offering a great opportunity for family fun, the holiday spirit and tradition, and educational opportunities about the world of plants and nature.

Learn more at the Bellevue Botanical Garden official website at http://www.bellevuebotanical.org/events/fmevents_gardendlights.htm

The New York Botanical Garden is hosting its own not-to-be-missed holiday shows. Their annual “Holiday Train Show” takes place November 18th through January 7th, 2007. “A dash of holiday magic transforms the Conservatory into an enchanting world featuring replicas of more than 140 New York landmarks—from the Statue of Liberty to Yankee Stadium—made entirely from plant parts like berries, leaves, and seeds. Large scale model trains and trolleys zip through this wondrous landscape, disappearing into tunnels, crossing bridges overhead, and gliding under waterfalls and twinkling lights.” The Holiday Train Show is situated in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory.

More family fun at the New York Botanic Garden! Visit the Gingerbread Adventures event in the Everett Children’s Adventure Garden between Nov. 18th and January 7th, 2007. Children discover plant parts that make up the gingerbread recipe, from cinnamon to ginger. Celebrated bakers have prepared a “feast for the eyes” of gingerbread houses in all shapes and sizes. There is a spinning carousel, a gnome home, and much more.

These are great holiday trip ideas sure to delight any family, and learning experiences as well about the fascinating world of plants.

Learn more at the official website http://www.nybg.org/. With more than 250 acres, the New York Botanical Garden has 50 gardens and plant collections and a landmark conservatory.