Lightscape – Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanical Garden

A Cavalcade of Colors

Lightscape – Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanical Garden

Visited: November 2021

Whenever I hear there’s going to be an event that includes more than one million lights (a few more than we put on our house during the holidays), it piques my curiosity. So, when it was announced that the Los Angeles County Arboretum in Arcadia would host Lightscape, a show that originated in London, Tracy and I immediately purchased tickets.

The gates opened promptly at 5:30 p.m. (our reserved time), so we decided we’d take a couple of laps around the roughly mile-long path of this historic property, which had transformed its various fauna into a cavalcade of color, lights and sound. The artistic installations illuminating the grounds and flora made the Arboretum appear even more spectacular.

As Arboretum members, we have visited numerous times during the day enjoying the 127 acres of gorgeous gardens and precocious peacocks …

… and, we love listening to Michael Feinstein and the Pasadena POPS as we picnic under the summer stars …

… but this would be only our second nighttime winter adventure (a few years ago we visited for the magnificent Moonlight Forest/Magic Lantern Art Festival … two photos below).

Richard Schulhof, CEO of the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden, summed Lightscape up best, “It’s an immersive light experience where you have technology meeting nature’s beauty in the form of the incredible botanical diversity of this place.”

With the sound of a strong wind blowing (from hidden speakers), we started out with what we surmised to be teepees.

In a Johnny Cash moment, we found ourselves at a Ring of Fire. The Fire Garden is actually, as the Arboretum describes, “made up of dozens of silver tin cans that are set on poles or on circular structures that look like jungle gyms. Flames rise from each can, creating a tranquil and almost meditative atmosphere.” With all that fire, I was glad the wind we heard was only from the speakers. (Mai Tai Tom Note: There will not be a Fire Garden in 2022)

Strolling along we recognized the theme song from Mission Impossible. This seemed a little out of place until we glanced down at the pavement. More than 100 television shows and movies have been filmed at the Arboretum, including an episode of the old Mission Impossible TV show. We walked by that star quickly just in case it self-destructed in 5 seconds.  We were on total Cruise control.

Also filmed here was the TV show Fantasy Island. I knew I should have gotten a Tattoo before we came (more on Fantasy Island at the Arboretum later). Other notable episodes from shows like Sea Hunt, Daniel Boone, Wonder Woman, Dallas, Dynasty and more were shot here.

There were a bunch of swinging Tarzan movies shot at the Prehistoric Forest that we’d visit later in the evening. The Arboretum was used for five of Johnny Weissmuller’s Tarzan movies.

The only reason I walked in here was to see how well the zipper on my vest lit up.

Sometimes the walk could be a little prickly.  Hey, is it trying to tell me something?

The next part of our Arboretum adventure took us into the dimension of sight and the dimension of sound, and we didn’t even need Rod Serling to tell us. The Three Amigos might have had their Singing Bush …

… but Lightscape gives you Singing Trees. Twelve large Redwood Trees wrapped in LED lights. As the Arboretum states, “The lights respond to recordings of angelic singing voices and rise and drop with each note, creating an arboreal choir.” I must say it was very cool, and the music was quite relaxing.

Paths were lit and changed colors frequently.

But there was no time to relax as we continued through various installations, many of them playing Christmas music, and even a few sporting Christmas ornaments which reminded us it’s almost time to search for ours in the garage.

Channeling our inner Tiny Tim (the ukulele guy, not the Christmas Carol kid), we tiptoed past the tulips, which rose 20 feet in the air.

With the full moon rising on the horizon, The Winter Cathedral (aka The Cathedral Of Light) beckoned in the distance.

100,000 tiny white LED lights illuminate a “tunnel installation shaped like arched windows found in churches.”

Last year, at the Chicago Lightscape, 50 proposals were made inside the Cathedral Of Light. 

After walking out of the light and into the darkness illuminated by palm trees …

… the famed Queen Anne Cottage loomed ahead. Queen Anne Cottage was built in 1885-86, and, of course, is where Mr. Roarke (aka Ricardo Montalbán) welcomed his guests to Fantasy Island. Tonight the house was a fantasy of color.

If one wanted a libation or a bite, a few of these spots dotted the path.I decided to eschew a cocktail because the last time I wandered in the dark at the Arboretum, I took a slight tumble into some cacti, which is not a good idea if you’re on blood thinners.

Although not fireworks, these certainly looked like them.

As we walked along, music of all types swirled about each installation.  As we reached the other side of Lake Baldwin, colorful lotuses were “floating” on the water with Queen Anne Cottage in the background.

As we gazed across the lake, the sound of Tony Bennett’s Silver Bells filled the air. This song has now been added to my Christmas playlist.

Entering the foreboding Prehistoric Jungle…

Joe Goddard’s musical piece Truth is Light was a perfect accompaniment for Disko Tannsi, an installation that looked part extraterrestrial to part dance club, with two people holding a disco ball waiting for a Donna Summer song to play.

Although Tarzan, Jane and Cheetah must have taken the evening off, sounds of the jungle were heard. As a matter of fact, something was In the Air Tonight when we heard the drums of Phil Collins in his song Two Worlds.

Exiting the jungle, a rendition of Oh Hanukkah by the Eyal Vilner Big Band beckoned us along the path leading toward the conclusion of our first lap.

The grand finale was Field of Light, which featured thousands of lights on the ground dancing to the sounds of various pieces of classical music. There were a myriad of colors, illuminated by the fountain in the background.

Our second foray around the mile-long path was more of a cardio workout with less stops.  We did get one last photo of the teepees and fire.

Queen Anne Cottage was now lit in different colors.

I could almost see Tattoo in the tower ringing the bell and yelling, “De Plane! De Plane!”

Tony Bennett was still singing Silver Bells when we hit the other side of the lake, and soon our colorful adventure to Lightscape had come to an end.

The Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanical Garden is wonderful to visit any time of year during the day. No matter what the season, there are different varieties of plants, trees and flowers to make for an interesting and serene visit.

Variations of Lightscape are also currently running in Chicago, Houston, San Antonio and Brooklyn.

Lightscape will be at the Arboretum from now until January 16, 2022. It’s a unique way to see the Arboretum at night, and it was quite enjoyable from the illuminated gardens to the perfect complement of of music and sounds that enhanced the experience.

Lightscape – Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanical Garden
301 North Baldwin Avenue
Arcadia, CA 91007
Entry Times
5:30 pm – 8:45 pm (15 minute intervals)
(closes at 10 pm)
Get timed tickets online
Adults $32
Children (3 -12) $20
Infants under 2 Free
Parking: Free park and ride (ADA accessible) is
available at Santa Anita Park race track,
Gate 6 off of Colorado Blvd.
Onsite VIP parking available to purchase ($15),
add to your cart when you book your entry tickets
https://www.arboretum.org/lightscape/