Blossoms of Light at 5,280 Feet
Holiday lights during the Christmas season are magical in the Denver area.
The Denver Botanic Gardens has been a leader in education and research in the area. They work extensively and maintain native plants and even work with the Colorado Golf Association to further match course agronomy and plants to the region. So, no wonder with their two facilities, lights showcase incredible biodiversity, history, and science. These high-density, botanical displays are in play year-round yet undergo the lighted festive adaptation for seven weeks out of the year. As these venues are top-rated, tickets in advance are required.
The primary location, on York Street in central Denver, takes the entire property over with Blossoms of Light, now celebrating 38 years. Rain, cold, or snow, this show runs through January 7th. The York Street location’s 24 acres have plants from all over the world that are illuminated. The herbariums and other displays are open during daylight hours, some during the night display. Gardens of the West and the Water Gardens exceed expectations any time of year.
You will walk through more than one million lights over the mile-long path. The light tunnel is a stunning visual expanding pathway. The amphitheater display has 448 lighted sticks over that portion of the grounds in a choreographed display. Glowing orbs dot the Monet pool. If that wasn’t enough, the Hive Garden Bistro and Offshoots Cafe has a tasty variety of winter food treats and drinks.
Just south of Denver, in Littleton, The Chatfield Trail of Lights wanders through the ebbs and flows of the Colorado low hills. In contrast to the York Street Location, most plant life is a dense assortment of natural shrub life and foliage.
This site was a homestead in the 1880s, and much of the ranch feel has been maintained and illuminated for the holidays, with cottonwoods, pine trees, and boxelders getting luminary treatment. Multiple light tunnels, illuminated antique tractors, and barns are here and there along the one-mile, lighted walking path. For winter amazement, a 17-foot-tall lit snowflake lifts the spirits. Over 70 giant ornaments dot the display landscape, adding to the visual wonder.
