Orange you thankful for trees?! I know I am.
They were wise old souls harboring the night and the magic of a million points of light. Gently falling snow added wonder and a hush to our very own snow-globe experience.
It was all beyond beautiful.
I whispered the word amazing on more than one occasion as my sister and I strolled around Meadow Lake and the mile-long stretch of wooded wonderland 40 miles west of Chicago, Illinois, otherwise known by day as Lisle’s Morton Arboretum (as in Morton Salt).
It was all beyond beautiful.
I whispered the word amazing on more than one occasion as my sister and I strolled around Meadow Lake and the mile-long stretch of wooded wonderland 40 miles west of Chicago, Illinois, otherwise known by day as Lisle’s Morton Arboretum (as in Morton Salt).
Meadow Lake dressed to the nines in her holiday finery.
After all, it’s not every day (or should I say, night) one expects to see tendrils of light dancing across the surface of a lake;
No love lost between me and this tree! Bet you're green with envy.
or a tree responding so enthusiastically to a hug.
This alien-looking landscape was one of my favorites.
Amazing was when time and space converged into a galaxy of glowing orbs covering an entire hillside. A million pinpoints of light twinkled as the universe paid homage to an enormous tree as bare as it was beautiful. The naked strength of that lone tree left me inspired to emulate the same grace and dignity in the face of my own inevitable old age.
2015: A Space Odyssey.
Just beyond the hillside tiny stick figures, drawn to the beams of brilliance in the clearing, seemed destined for a journey that was out of this world.
More space aliens? Or maybe little minions.
Obviously the powers that be (ah, that would be Gerry Donnelly, president and CEO at The Morton Arboretum and Sue Wagner, vice president of education and information services, along with John Featherstone, founder and principal at Lightswitch) offered an illuminating journey.
More than 210,000 visitors from around the world have journeyed to The Morton Arboretum’s holiday light show, Illumination, since its debut in 2013. This was no ordinary light show. The colors of the lights alone reached far beyond the traditional Christmas reds and greens and Hanukkah blues and whites to vibrant magentas
More than 210,000 visitors from around the world have journeyed to The Morton Arboretum’s holiday light show, Illumination, since its debut in 2013. This was no ordinary light show. The colors of the lights alone reached far beyond the traditional Christmas reds and greens and Hanukkah blues and whites to vibrant magentas
Let there be light!
and rich autumn hues that often set the trees ablaze with color.
The sky and trees were ablaze with color.
The trees took center stage (this was an arboretum, after all) as light and shadow courtesy of 20 miles of cable and LED technology brought the otherwise barren winter landscape back to life. Here and there trees and lights danced with abandon, my favorite the Symphony Woods attraction courtesy of Chicago’s own Symphony Orchestra recording of Tchaikovsky’s, “The Nutcracker Suite.” I felt the child Marie witnessing the armies of mice and toy soldiers do battle in this decidedly unique rendition of Dumas’ adaptation of E.T.A. Hoffman’s story The Nutcracker and the Mouse King.
Childlike wonder was definitely modus operandi when it came to our memorable evening stroll a little more than a week ago. This year's show runs through January 2nd.
Sister Act!
With a second visit to Morton Arboretum’s Illumination in as many years, I felt a new holiday tradition taking hold in this season of light. Thank you Mother Nature;
I should only hope to be as bold and beautiful in the winter of my life.
and thank you, Morton Arboretum!
The finale was spectacular, particularly given the falling snow.
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