I didn’t make it there until after Christmas this year, but I’m so glad I didn’t miss Bellevue Botanical Garden’s flora-and-fauna-in-lights extravaganza, called Garden d’Lights. 2005 marked my last visit to the light show, when the display was mostly one flower bed and a grape arbor. With an explosion of creativity and an army of volunteers working thousands of hours, the multi-hued lights seemed to cover acres.

Visitors from all over the area make it a part of their holiday festivities. Just as Bellevue is a culturally rich and diverse city, so  were the visitors on the night I was there. As I wandered the gardens, I heard a veritable United Nations of languages spoken.

If you missed the event or would like to find out more, check out the Bellevue Botanical Garden website.