WORCESTER - The New England Botanical Garden's annual nighttime light show has become a holiday season tradition for many local families, helping to brighten the shortest days and conquer the longest shadows.
But this year's event promises to be extraordinary, with Tower Hill's team of gardeners, gardeners and volunteers literally reaching for the stars.
Starry Sky opens Friday night and brings a galactic theme to the park in the form of cool blue lights interspersed with the warm yellows and oranges of the sun (the sun is a star, after all). The light displays will be located in a number of indoor and outdoor spaces, including the Promenade, Pliny Avenue, Winter Garden, Conservatory, Limonia, Courtyard, Lawn and even the Visitor Center.
"We've been wanting to do this for a long time, so it was great to finally do it this year," said horticulturist Isabella Bogdansky, one of 16 staff members responsible for each year's design ideas.
"The biggest challenge was losing our coverage coordinator, so we all came together this year to fill that void," Bogdanski said. "I just try to remember everything she taught me and think about it in my own way, like, 'What would April think about this?' He needs more light or I'll have to do it, that's it."
Bogdansi was particularly able to express his creativity on the garden lawn, which adopted a sunset theme, gradually moving from warm colors to cooler colors. Next to the cottage, he starts with yellow and red, then moves down to the blue towards the secret garden, which in turn will use the black hole-themed globe lanterns bought from the garden last year.
The beloved tunnel will also return.
"The tunnels are wonderful. They are interactive and people enjoy walking around them,” said Mark Richardson, director of horticulture.
While last year there was a rainbow, this year the tunnel is decorated in a starry theme with icy blue lights.
"It's a great Instagram moment," Richardson said. "Everyone loves taking a photo or video for an Instagram story while scrolling through it."
An additional smaller tunnel has been added this year, which will be immediately visible from the entrance. Called "The Sun," it will contrast with the nighttime theme of the great tunnel, using yellow lanterns and sunbeams to light up the night.
Almost every tree in the garden has some kind of lighting, either hanging along the trunk and branches or placed around the base to illuminate from below. These "lights" are fully programmable, capable of changing a variety of colors throughout the evening, and are ideal for trees that don't connect well with wires, Richardson explained.
The park's unique tapestry of flora makes each year a fun challenge, Bagdanxi said.
"It's great to just think about the theme of the garden and think about how all the little themes come together and how you're going to make it work with the trees you're going to work with in the garden," he said.
"The night is just magical," Richardson said.
Visitors will be able to experience more magic as they admire the lights until the end of the month. Gnomevember saw 40 gnomes, each decorated by a local artist, placed throughout the grounds.
"People get a lot of fun out of watching all the gnomes in the park," said public relations representative Liz Nye. Each has a name and story, as well as a QR code that lets you learn more about the artist.
Starry Skies officially opens Friday night, but until then, the team at the New England Botanic Garden will be busy putting the finishing touches on a project that's been in the works since September but has been slated since last December.
More than any light installation, this decoration is Bogdanek's favorite part.
"To see everything come together, to see the joy on people's faces as they come into the parks and get excited about the holiday season," she said.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette. The annual holiday lighting is returning to the New England Botanical Garden.
