Saturday, January 03, 2009

Magical light

It was the last night. Cold, clear, crisp with a slice of moon hanging in a sky dotted with bright stars. Families and couples, bundled in heavy coats, walked up the small hill of frozen grass into the light – into a carnival of lights.

Every year the Idaho Botanical Garden creates Winter Garden aGlow during the holidays. Volunteers and staff decorate the entire garden with exquisite designs using over 250,000 colored lights. And then the magic begins…

One year we came in December before Christmas. Some Garden volunteers were setting up large speakers in the main walkway. People were milling around, kids were running and chasing each other.

Suddenly music came through the speakers – the Waltz of the Flowers from the Nutcracker Suite. As if on cue, the children began spontaneously dancing; arching their hands above their heads, circling and twirling. Soon there were about 15 little ballet dancers pirouetting, spinning, oblivious to the growing audience of adults. When the music finally ended, we broke into applause and cheers, to the great surprise of the children. With big grins on their faces, they bowed (numerous times) before running off into the garden.

The show is over for this year. But it will return during the next holiday season.

3 comments:

Jenny said...

Looks so beautiful. I've been in Boise 17 years and I've never been. Guess I'll have to change that!

I sure miss you. I hope 2009 is a wonderful year for you.

-Jenny

Petrea Burchard said...

Just dropping by to say happy new year! I hope 2009 is a great year for you. Thanks for all your visits and support in 2008.

Ms M said...

Thanks, Jenny. You'll have to go next year -- it's really beautiful! I miss you, too, and I hope 2009 is a great year for you, Zac, & Bryant.

Happy New Year to you, Petrea! Thank you for your visits -- I look forward to your photos and good words.