Columbus Botanical Garden

Last night my daughter and I visited the Columbus Botanical Garden for this year’s holiday event, Shine. I have been looking forward to this since the Halloween decorations were removed and the garden started preparing for the end of the year holidays. Between our work schedules and the weather, last night was the best opportunity to visit (although, I might go back tonight… we’ll see). You can learn more about the event on the garden’s website – Shine.

It is a warm night, no breeze with a hint of pine wafting through the air. I think I can even smell the smore’s being roasted over campfires by kids and adults alike. We’ll start here, below the rose garden, for our walk through Shine. Don’t worry, all the paths are lit and the walking is easy. Come on, follow me…

We a drawn by the dancing lights and the activity at the top of the path. There is so much to see and soak up. I’m not sure where to point the camera first. I start clicking the shutter before I settle down and look for images I want to create. The story I want to tell.

We get to the center garden, full of native Georgia perennials, and I realize I’m a little too tall for the light trellises. It doesn’t stop me, of course, but now I have to divide my attention between the camera and not getting my head tangled in the lights… 🙂

Working our way through the garden we emerge on the other side to find a complete light tunnel up to the top of the garden. The little kids in us have to go through the tunnel. Who wouldn’t? Tonight is about letting the little kid out to play (let’s be honest, I always do that). It is a little challenging for me as the path is a two-way avenue, and I’m left to hunch even more to make way way around the oncoming families.

The adventure through the tunnel is worth it. The reward at the end is a giant Ferris wheel (not rideable), Santa and the campfires for smore’s. There is a tent with a stage for a small play that happens twice a night (we missed both performances). I really like Santa in his sleigh with the reindeer, I only wish the giant sign wasn’t behind them… oh, well.

We work our way back through the garden so we can enter the wooded trail that leads to the Camellia garden. The trail is decorated for the Walk of Stars which features suspended Moravian stars dedicated to loved ones. I’m especially excited to see the Camellia garden and how it has been decorated.

The stars are beautiful, the atmosphere reverent. We walk in silence.

We make our way to the start of the camellia garden, it is a section named the Camellia Bowl. It features a wonderful trellis with a suspended bell. All has been decorated with lights that provide the perfect illumination. More than one individual stops to ring the bell, the sound echoing through the woods.

The Camellia Garden is decorated with hanging stars, lighted paths and benches. In the middle of the woods it is a wonderful holiday oasis. We start along the path to the fountain. The area is busy but not terribly crowded. I’m able to get a few good images. After a few people filled attempts my luck turns and the fountain is empty. I take a breath, remember to slow down even through the excitement, and focus…

We walk along the meander paths until my daughter spies a refreshment tent. She can’t resist the hot chocolate. As she goes off the get her holiday elixir I wander around until I find a bench I can’t resist. It wouldn’t be a walk through a garden if I didn’t stop and capture an image of a bench.

The hot chocolate is, well, hot. We decide to pause our walk and sit on one of those wonderful benches to allow it to cool. As luck would have it, the bench is near the fountain. I’m not one to do “street photography”, but I can’t resist this scene. The word that comes to mind as we sit there and observe the families, is community.

The event is getting crowded. It is becoming more difficult for me to capture any additional images. We have seen all there is to see. I guess it is time to go.

I hope you enjoyed our walk through Shine. Today is the last day of the event. I’m on the fence as to if I will go again tonight. It is supposed to be another beautiful evening. I’ll let you know what I decide… if I go, you are free to join me.