Being in the middle of midterm season, my boyfriend, Marc, and I needed a date idea that was romantic, but quick so that we could get back to our studying. The Gardens of Light at the Botanical Garden made for the perfect little date night study break!
The Gardens of Light takes place every autumn. This year, it took place starting September 6 and it is open until October 31, so there is still time if you want to check it out. The location is very practical as it is located right next to Pie IX metro station. They also have a big parking lot, which saved us lots of time rather than having to look for parking. The tickets are only $12 for students, or $16 for adults, which is super affordable and worth it for the experience. We bought our tickets online beforehand, so we went in right away when we arrived and there were absolutely no lines we had to wait in, which was great!
The experience lasted about an hour, which was excellent for us. Truly anyone, children or adults, would enjoy it. Not to mention, you simply need to be able to stroll along a cement path, so it is really accessible for everybody. Also, if you’re worried about walking for an hour straight, there are benches where you can sit and simply enjoy the scenery all over the gardens. There is even a café right at the beginning if you want to get a hot beverage before starting your experience.
The Gardens of Light is exactly what the name implies…it is multiple gardens filled with lights and lanterns. Who wouldn’t find that beautiful?
The first one is the Chinese Garden, where they pay tribute to those Chinese families who live by the water, as well as those who are rural. Taking the words right out of my mouth, Marc said:
“The Chinese garden was by far my favourite one. It is completely filled with lights and the space is totally maximized, creating a breathtaking scenery.”
There is then the First Nations Garden, which if I’m being honest, is not as enchanting. There is a light show that is projected onto a tree creating an enlightening experience as it represents the circle of life. There is then a path surrounded by trees, where light is reflected off hidden disco balls and onto the trees creating a magical view. It really felt like there were bright stars around us. However, although it is still beautiful, as Marc described, “the path was very long to only have these white lights. It felt like a lot of wasted space.”
Lastly, the Japanese Garden is very peaceful. It is mostly filled with soft lights on the plants and trees creating a relaxing atmosphere. In this garden, you are also able to experience the kotatsu (heating table), which can be really nice since walking outside for an hour in Montreal’s weather can leave you freezing. The Japanese garden also has a little stand where they sell some typical Japanese sweets, which are heavenly!
“We tried the matcha cookies and as someone who has never tried matcha before, I really enjoyed them and would go back even just for those!”
– Marc
Montreal & More 