During the cold winter months in Fort Collins, there are few flowers to be seen, except at The Gardens on Spring Creek.
Friday, Dec. 2 was the opening night for the Garden of Lights display at The Gardens on Spring Creek. From Dec. 2 until Jan. 8 the gardens will be filled with lights that the public can enjoy. The many-colored lights are fastened to numerous elaborate structures taking the shapes and colors of daffodils, pumpkins and corn, among many other plants, garden-related items and other fun shapes.
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The stunning lights show was a main reason why John and Jessica Murphy came up from Colorado Springs, Co. to visit the gardens for their anniversary week according to Jessica Murphy.
Both enjoyed the many shapes that the lights brought to life.
“Just the shapes they are making out of the lights,” John Murphy said. “It’s really pretty.”
This is part of the reason why they were drawn to the light display.
“I love the watering cans too,” Jessica Murphy said. “They are so cute. That’s actually what drew my attention. I saw a picture on Facebook with that front watering can and then saw that it was up here in Fort Collins, and I was like ‘ah we gotta go.’”
Kelly Kellow is a Horticulturist at The Gardens on Spring Creek and creates the flowers, with some help from volunteers, that can be seen all throughout the display.
“I call it my hidden talent because I’m a horticulturist during the summer and then a light artist in the winter,” Kellow said. “I have a lot of fun, and it’s fun to see volunteers get to make them and see them lit up and everything.
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The light display would not be possible without the many hours of help from volunteers from the community, according to Kellow.
John and Jessica Murphy consider themselves “very big fans of light displays.”
“I love color,” Jessica Murphy said. “I’m a color girl, so anything that has a lot of color, me and my camera are there.”
They have visited the Electric Safari in Colorado Springs and the Blossoms of Light at the Denver Botanical Gardens.
“We’ve done the Denver Botanical Gardens, and I think I like this better,” John Murphy said. “How they’ve done this is really pretty. It really makes the vegetation pop out.”
At the gardens, they make an effort to make structures that look real.
“We try to make them as close to the actual flower as we can,” Kellow said.
According to Kellow, this is the ninth year that the gardens have put on the Garden of Lights display. Since its first year, the event has grown a lot with this year’s display containing 150,000 lights, 4,000 light strands, 33 new flower structures and 4,700 zip ties, according to Kellow.
The display makes an impression on the community.
“We get all kinds of great feedback,” Kellow said.
The couple was happy they made the trip to visit the light display.
“It’s gorgeous,” John Murphy said. “You can see it from a distance. It just kinda draws you in. It’s been well worth the trip.”
The display is open from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m. everyday. The recommended donation amount for entry is $5 per adult and $2 per child. In addition to the light display, there is a holiday plants and gift sale. During the weekends, there will be additional events including musical performances, hot drinks served, a visit from Santa and an opportunity to make holiday crafts. For more information visit fcgov.com/gardens.
