Garden Lights, Holiday Nights Dazzles

Friday night I checked out the Atlanta Botanical Garden's latest installation, 'Garden Lights, Holiday Nights.'

Nearly one million LED bulbs bathe the 30-acre Midtown garden from 5 to 10 p.m. each night through January 7th.

The light show, designed by Tres Fromme of Studio Outside and Ted Ferreira of CD+M Lighting Design Group, includes giant snowflakes, a large "praying Santa mantis," bumblebees, daisies, a twinkling greenhouse and more.

I wondered who had actually installed the lights. Turns out it was Peachtree City-based Cooper Lighting, who used mostly LED bulbs to keep the energy costs down (they consume only 10 watts, are designed to last at least 50,000 hours, and use up to 80 percent less electricity than typical halogen lights.)

Although new Cooper Lighting fixtures are featured for the first time in the show, the company has helped light the Fuqua Orchid Atrium and other area of the Garden for the past few years.

The Garden's exhibitions manager, Cathleen Hunt, said in a release that "the landscape lighting allows the show to flow throughout the Garden, while helping us to meet our commitment to ongoing sustainability efforts."

An outdoor cafe complete with a cozy fireplace sells hot chocolate, apple cider and even s'mores. There's also wine and beer available as soon as you enter.

Enjoy the photo gallery...