4 minute read
GLOWING ALL SEASON LONG
Elise Bremer | Editor
Winter Lights is back at the Arboretum! Lighting up the gardens again this season, the one-mile walking tour celebrates the horticultural history of the Arboretum and invites visitors to get out and explore the gardens even in the darkest months.
Beginning with the iconic larger-than-life walk-through apple that greets visitors behind the Snyder Building, the light displays throughout Winter Lights pay homage to the cold-hardy plant breeding research of the Arboretum and Horticultural Research Center (HRC).
“We always have a botanical theme,” said Wendy Composto, Signature Seasonal Events Manager and the creative vision behind the annual light displays. “When we started Winter Lights, we looked at the cold-hardy plants developed by the Arboretum and the HRC and how we could highlight them.”
The glimmering red apple that kicks off the tour celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Haralson in 2022, proving that this University of Minnesota-developed apple — and the Arboretum visitors who pose underneath its light-up representation — are certainly cold hardy!
Other plants developed at the HRC for Minnesota’s cold climate get their time to shine at Winter Lights, too. Around the Wedding Tower overlooking the Knot Garden, rows of illuminated roses grow up from the snow creating a magical winter garden beloved by visitors. Which of the four super-hardy Northern Accents® shrub roses or other University of Minnesota-developed roses they might depict is up to visitors to decide.
While some beloved light displays return to Winter Lights year after year, Composto adds a few new elements each season to surprise visitors. New this year, a woodland scene featuring glowing campfires, tents and forest creatures will inspire visitors of all ages to explore the great outdoors, no matter the season.
Preparations for the walking tour begin in early September, with staff and volunteers placing the majority of the lights around the grounds before the snow flies and winter sets in.
Arboretum trees wrapped with lights are carefully decorated in consultation with horticulture staff, ensuring the health of the trees and the safety of staff and volunteers.
For those interested in recreating the Winter Lights experience in their own yards, Arborist Ian Vaughan stresses the importance of taking down lights at the end of the season to ensure tree health.
“For any winter lights on trees, the biggest takeaway is the prompt removal of the lights after the winter or season. If strands of lights are left wrapped tightly around branches or the main trunk, they have the potential to girdle the tree and reduce the flow of water and nutrients,” said Vaughan.
Opening Nov. 21 and running select nights through Jan. 5, visitors can tailor their Winter Lights experience at curated special theme nights. For those visiting with small children, Family Nights on Nov. 26 and Dec. 19 feature smaller crowds plus hot cocoa, cookies and a craft project indoors to warm up after touring the lights. Date Nights on Dec. 5 and 12 make for a romantic evening under the stars followed by dancing lessons indoors led by Costa Rica Ballroom.
All nights of Winter Lights feature s’mores kits for sale to roast over bonfires at S’Mores Village, plus food and beverage options for sale indoors at Rootstock.
Don’t miss the magic of Winter Lights, lighting up the nights at the Arboretum all season long. Said Composto, “Lights just brighten your spirits; they brighten the night and we need that in the winter.”
Visitors, including all members, must reserve advance tickets for Winter Lights, including special theme nights. Learn more and get tickets at arb.umn.edu/winterlights.
