STORY AND PHOTOS BY KAREN BOSSICK

The Idaho Botanical Garden in Boise is bathed in 850,000 lights this holiday season as it celebrates 29 years of Winter Garden aGlow.

What began as a small neighborhood event is now the Garden’s largest fundraiser, supporting plant conservation and educational community programs.

This year’s Winter Garden aGlow includes a Yuletide Bar full of festive drinks, a Silent Disco where you can dance under the lights with wireless headphones in a Disco Snowman area, lighted hula hoops and an opportunity for children to look for hidden gnomes in a scavenger hunt.

Flowers usher visitors into the garden.

It also includes a Candy Cane Forest and Gumdrop Grove, a Gingerbread House exhibit set out under the twinkling lights, and a model railroad.

The Winter Garden aGlow continues through Dec. 31 if you happen to be in Boise between now and the end of the year. Tickets are available at  https://www.idahobotanicalgarden.org/event/winter-garden-aglow/.

If you miss the garden this winter, you might want to check it out this coming summer.

The garden was established in 1984 on land smack dab up against the Boise Foothills adjacent to the Old Idaho State Penitentiary, which is very much worth a visit itself.

Luminarias light up one area.

The garden encompasses 50 acres with 14 themed gardens, including a Water Conservation Landscape, Children’s Adventure Garden, Heirloom Rose Garden, English Garden and Labyrinth.

These gardens contain more than 800 species of plants, many of which are identified.

Even bridges are lit up.

Snoopy’s House is one of many gingerbread houses made by community members.