Come amaze at the Gardens of Light
Isa Tousignant
Welcome to the magical Gardens of Light, running from September to October each year, when the Chinese, Japanese and First Nations gardens at Montréal’s Botanical Garden light up come nightfall. Wander the meandering footpaths set ablaze in a million colours with delicate silk lanterns and ethereal light projections, and watch nature come to life.
Lights and lanterns for everyone’s delight
Every edition of Gardens of Light brings its own poetic theme, which is exhibited in the lanterns as well as in the special programming organized to animate the evenings for kids. Come see a luminous, interactive and immersive installations and more. Created to encourage dialogue between humans and nature, this is an experience that has the whole family in mind — but it makes a great date night idea too. (Watch for the special Halloween activities happening throughout October!)
Chinese legends brought to life
Each year, Chinese Garden gets decked out from top to bottom to tell a traditional tale, usually drawn from Chinese mythology. The story comes to life through the multicoloured creatures perched and posed everywhere you look.
A Zen tour of Japan
By contrast to that high-octane light show, the Japanese Garden is a perfect site for quiet contemplation. When night falls the garden’s unique features get washed in tranquil lights that denote each shape and texture. In a poetic homage to the changing seasons, it’s an invitation to take the time to admire the subtle or spectacular transformations of nature. Stroll through a series of scenes in this peaceful garden or take a seat on a bench and bask in the beauty.
The First Nations cycle of life
This lights in the First Nations Garden are focuses on the Sacred Tree, a giant poplar that stands as the star of this garden. The garden around it shines in a multitude of colours to represent the circle of life, the birth of seasons and nature’s perpetual transformations.
Isa Tousignant
Isa Tousignant is a Montréal-based editor and storyteller with a curiosity that runs deeper than most. She has chatted life philosophies with celebrity chefs, gemologists, arena rockers and furries. (All were transformative.) Her free time is spent designing jewellery and laughing at her husband’s jokes.