A Garden's Winter Wonderland
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The Atlanta Botanical Garden
attracts both tourists and natives with its unique art, plant exhibitions,
flowers, and conservation education, but during the holiday season there is an
even heavier flow of visitors that come to the garden. From November 16 to
January 4, the garden features a “Garden Lights, Holiday Nights” every single
night where friends and family can take a stroll through a twinkling winter
wonderland of one million lights. The
exhibition features the Edible Garden, the Radiant Rainforest, Brilliant Bugs,
the Bear Family in the Fuqua Orchid Center, and more. The smell of fresh
flowers fills your senses as the sweet smell of hot chocolate and champagne
whip right by you. At the same time, the sound of joyful holiday music can be
heard from every inch of the garden. The fire pits act as the perfect spot for
families to warm up while enjoying the sticky, gooey, fun of making some
mouthwatering s’mores. All the employees wear a light-hearted attitude and an
enthusiasm for the amazing displays throughout the garden. The chilly winter
breeze can be uncomfortable, but one can’t help but smile at the breathtaking
array of lights and the mixture of old couples cuddling on a bench or small
children laughing while dancing and playing tag around the exhibition. A woman
loses her phone and her wallet along the trail, but finds it five minutes later
because a kind gentleman had found it and called to return her lost
possessions. A perfect example of the uplifting ambiance at
the “Garden Lights, Holiday Nights”. A hidden treasure located in Midtown that
seems to have been discovered by families and the older community, but not yet by teenagers and college students. It welcomes a diverse range of ages and backgrounds who come together to enjoy the lights and sounds of the holidays. Visiting this exhibition, I too discovered the beauty behind
the holidays. Maybe it’s the lights, maybe it’s the hot chocolate or the snow,
but for some reason, they bring out the best in us. The sense of community and
genuine happiness at the “Garden Lights, Holiday Nights” is
nothing short of amazing.
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