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RSVP early for Mill Pond Garden light display to open Nov. 24

November 19, 2019

Mill Pond Garden’s caretakers have been busy installing this year’s Garden of Lights show in Lewes, with several new displays including American Flag, Cloud and Rain, Wisteria Arbor and more.

The light show will be open – only to visitors with confirmed reservations – from 5:30 to 8 p.m., Sundays, Nov. 24, and Dec. 1 and 8; and Wednesday, Jan. 1. Early reservation requests are recommended. For more information and to subscribe for email invitations, go to www.millpondgarden.com.

Visitors can experience a half-hour walk through the Garden of Lights, with new clumps of lighted roses and lilies made of lights all coming together in the enchanting experience of Delmarva’s only walk-through light show, with a fragrant cherry wood fire for warming up. The show has grown in size to 35,000 LED energy-saving lights. There is a wonderful view of lights along Red Mill Pond’s shores and neighboring docks.

To subscribe to receive open house invitations with show details, go to www.millpondgarden.com and submit email address and name. Reservations may be made for a specific time by responding to the invitation sent for a particular date; this will guarantee access to limited parking in the residential neighborhood on Red Mill Pond. Mill Pond Garden subscribership has grown from 125 a year ago to 750 local households today, increasing constantly.

The show is designed by Michael Zajic, who was trained in the mechanics at Longwood Gardens. Zajic used that training to create a world-class, million-light show at Brookside Gardens in Silver Spring, Md., for the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission. Zajic also consulted on the renovation of the Lewis Ginter Botanic Garden’s light show in Richmond, Va., in 1998. A horticulturist, Zajic is the founder of Delaware Botanic Gardens in Dagsboro, Mill Pond Garden in Nassau, and the Cape Farm and Garden Tour of 2016.

Mill Pond Garden is a public botanical garden, a state and federal nonprofit entity, in a residential community called Shadyside, fronting on Red Mill Pond near Lewes. It serves the neighborhood and region with gardens for enjoyment, horticultural tours and information, labels for education, plant science, plant selection introductions and outreach programs. Mill Pond Garden is an active member of the American Public Garden Association, a federal Department of Agriculture Sentinel Plant Network-trained monitoring station, a National Wildlife Federation Certified Wildlife Habitat and a participant in plant research with Ohio University.

Mill Pond Garden promotes enjoyment and knowledge of gardens and plants in the New American Style of gardening with key native plants for pollinators and wildlife, supporting ideas of nature’s friend, Doug Tallamy, through the traditional landscape design of romantic walking gardens.

The Garden of Lights show will be open rain or shine, but not for heavy snow, ice or slippery conditions, for safety reasons. Due to limited parking, there are a limited number of invitation-tickets per show and they are distributed first come, first served via email reply. There will be a $5 per person entry fee at the check-in to help meet the costs of the show.

Visits are by invitation only to email subscribers to Mill Pond Garden. Last year’s shows all booked quickly. It is recommended to reserve as soon as one receives an emailed invitation.

To subscribe to receive an email invitation and request a required reservation, go to www.millpondgarden.com.

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