By Liz Nye
December 2023
Of the many important activities involved in a horticulture job at a botanic garden, tackling miles of string lightsand puzzling out the electrical connections needed to illuminate acres of garden spaces might sound out of the ordinary. Until you experience Night Lights. Envisioned and built by the Garden’s horticulture team, this annual winter light display is a dazzling spectacle, a feat of creativity, engineering, and lots of zip ties that sparks joy for thousands of visitors each year.
Bringing Night Lights to life starts with a vision — and not just one but many. Members of the team come up with individual plans for the gardens they manage. This year, staff interpreted a single theme: Starry Skies. Displays created with over a quarter-million lights celebrate the Sun, the Moon, shooting stars, the beauty of our sunsets, and natural phenomena like the aurora borealis. “What I love about this year’s event is how well everyone’s vision came together,” says Dawn Davies, the Garden’s formal garden manager. “When we hear this echoed by visitors it’s really validating.”
To make Night Lights new and exciting each year, planning each space and acquiring exactly the right materials becomes a nearly year-long process. While lights are reused, additional lights, especially those that provide special features, are purchased through a commercial whole-sale vendor. Set up then begins around September, and despite all the literal plugs involved in this process, “It’s not just plug and play,” says director of horticulture Mark Richardson. Many elements of the event can’t be set up until a week or two before it opens because of daytime visitation and other activities going on at the Garden. “Even things that you think might not take long, that you’ve done before, often take more time than you think,” agrees Dawn. Each year, she works on lighting a 100-foot tunnel that stretches past the Cottage Garden to the Lawn Garden. This crowd favorite has been dubbed the “twilight tunnel” as it’s strung with deep blue and purple lights this year.
Because the horticulture team is only 16 people, volunteers play a big role in making Night Lights happen. This year, volunteers gave 300 hours, helping with crafting projects, tree wrapping, and more. At a special sneak peek in November, volunteers got to be among the first to see the outcome of their work illuminated. ‘Oohs,’ ‘ahhs,’ and ‘wows’ were in abundance.
It’s no surprise that the Garden offers the perfect backdrop for a walk-through winter light display. Botanic gardens are already designed to provide immersive, aesthetic experiences. “The displays in The Ramble really demonstrate how we couldn’t do what we’re doing in another setting,” says Mark. “The Kalmia (mountain laurel) in this garden is one of my favorites. You have these big sweeps of shrubs that we’ve lit in really interesting ways.” Pliny’s Allee, a garden space with a boardwalk lined on both sides by rows of oak leaf hydrangea and towering oak trees, is another great example of how the plants at the Garden contribute to the drama of the experience, Mark says. Simple uplighting accentuates their natural beauty and intriguing structures. “I’ve seen visitors looking at plant labels this year, especially in the conservatories,” says Dawn.
In addition to outdoor light displays, Night Lights: Starry Skies features two trees, one in each
conservatory, made from living bromeliads and ferns, an outdoor model train display (think “space mountain”), fire pits for warming up or toasting s’mores, and opportunities to find that perfect holiday gift in the Garden Shop. It’s an event that has truly grown and evolved to offer something special for everyone. For some, Night Lights has become an annual winter tradition, a way to celebrate the season with friends and loved ones. For others, attending Night Lights will be their first visit to the Garden. “Whether it’s the first time or the fifth, we hope that everyone who attends feels that this is a place for them and that their experience at Night Lights inspires them to visit us during the day and learn more about plants and our environment,” says Mark.
Night Lights continues through December 31 (excluding December 24 and 25), and tickets must be purchased in advance. Get yours today! Be sure to check out the Garden’s FAQs online for tips on how to have the best Night Lights experience yet. Warm clothes are a must. Comfortable shoes, cameras, and an appetite for festive food and drink are good to bring, too.
Liz Nye is the Public Relations Manager at New England Botanic Garden. She holds a master’s degree in science writing from Johns Hopkins University and enjoys learning about and writing about all things plants.
