With Lights all A-Glow

Since Thanksgiving I have been wanting to visit the Idaho Botanical Gardens for their "Winter Garden aGlow" display. We learned about it when Dan asked his boss about ideas of things to do while my parents were visiting over Thanksgiving. We didn't make it while they were here but I suggested we brave the cold and go see the display on the 26th.

It was their 16th annual display and they boast: a "dazzling display of nearly 270,000 sparkling lights artfully displayed." I know Christmas lights are Christmas lights but it's still fun to see how each place decorates with them. The Botanical Gardens did some things I found very creative (though I didn't think to take pictures, what was up with that?!) such as bunching the lights together to appear like grapes hanging from a vine, shaping them to look like ears of corn on a stalk, and combining them to look like other summer fruits and vegetables.

Even if I didn't get pictures of the more creative displays, I did manage to capture some fun pictures that evening:

 

This is what happens when you hand your camera to someone who doesn't know touching the screen on the back will take a picture.

 

The displays by the entrance were the most amazing. But the further you strolled from the entrance the fewer the lights (probably the fewer the outlets too). They have a trail that takes you above the garden where you can look down on the lights and see some of the Boise Valley in the distance but there weren't many lights along that pathway. Having been to Temple Square's light display, this wasn't as impressive throughout and it lacked the spirit that is present when strolling through Main Street Plaza and Temple Square (not to mention that it wasn't free and I think it was overpriced); however, we had a great evening out together and ooo'ed and aaahhh'ed at many of the lights and the creativity of those who put it all together.