This year marks the fifth annual Garden Glow at Maymont, an iridescent illumination of Richmond’s crown jewel. Featuring art installations by Alfonso Perez Acosta, Jeff Dobrow, and Kevin Aukward, this cozy fall ticket is a lightbulb of an idea for a date night or an evening with family and friends. Set against the tranquil center of the Japanese Gardens and the stately and rolling Italian Gardens, Garden Glow is a memorable adventure you won’t want to miss. It’s true. I went.
I was lucky to be among the first to start a second line at the gate next to the carriage house entrance of Maymont when my partner and I arrived for our reservation at 6:30 on October 14. We proved we were supposed to be there to the volunteer at the tent, and she instructed us to follow the glowing orbs of light to the food and libation area adjacent to Maymont house. The sun was setting, and the colors of the sky gave the pulsing firework lights near the food trucks an awkward adolescent look until dusk became night.
Photo by Kimberly Frost.
We ambled around the area for a bit, making use of the adult beverage tent and adjusting to the lights and situation. The tent was conveniently located next to the installation by Alfonso Perez Acosta, which is set in a cedar grove with lights painted by local school children, strung from branches. You stand underneath them as each string of bulbs takes turns lighting the space of the exhibit. This projection of the children’s “inner light” reminded me of the march of time. As one band of children leaves their youth, another shines their bright hope into a more distant future. There were actual children in the grove climbing the trees and clamoring for pictures from their tense and reluctant parents, but I preferred the metaphor.
Photo by Kimberly Frost.
After that, we soaked in the smoke of firewood and bore witness to the insistent melodramas of family life until the firework burst of LED fully matured. We walked to a white square archway that said, “GARDEN GLOW.” My partner held my cup as I helped a family, glowing with love, take a picture. We followed the light of the trail to the Japanese gardens.
Photo by Kimberly Frost.
On the trail were more children and families, this time glowing because “Dad…please?” is persuasive verbiage in the glow of the dark merch tent. A child behind me brandished a toy sword aloft and proclaimed, “This one is covered in green blood!” I was grateful to this mighty feller of goblins for securing the darkness once again, and admired his courage as he charged down the hill to another gallant deed. He had to protect his Brayden.
Photo by Kimberly Frost.
We were met by proud and able volunteers at the end of the path, wearing the honored raiment of the Maymont volunteer polo and walkie talkie, resolute in the serene light of paper lanterns. I stood in awe. What a thought, to think that I, and you too, could be counted among those fabled ranks. Hast thou the fortitude to wield the spear of beautification? To maintain multiple levels of order in accordance with the universe? To keep your thumb off the button of the walkie talkie? I beseech ye then, oh reader; answer the muster and the trumpet’s call. Join the volunteer team at Maymont. The person that contacted me to write this made a specific mention that they need people and asked me to include it in this article. Do it because you are nice, or for a nice resume entry.
Photo by Kimberly Frost.
At the end of the trail next to the volunteers, we encountered an age-old conundrum: right or left? I deliberated for a second with my partner about it. Meanwhile, a first grader next to us outsmarted and out classed us by consulting the eenie-meenie-miney-moe. The oracle gestured right, and we followed its wise counsel to the path that led to the waterfall, cave, and bridge area.
The author takes advantage of a photo opportunity. Photo by Anna Dunstan.
At the cave, I made use of one of countless photo opportunities at Garden Glow. The density of the blue and red light cast a crisp shadow in its jagged mouth. At least for my photo. I stood and watched the waterfall through the Japanese maple, loosely holding the wooden rail. A lady remarked how beautiful it was. I told her I was having a moment.
Photo by Kimberly Frost.
My partner had wandered off. At that moment, she returned to me from a moment of her own. She led me to the gazebo that sits atop the koi fish pond. We stood a while and absorbed the hermetic reflection of autumn foliage in all colors of the rainbow. Others took our place as we left and walked our way around the peaceful water.
Photo by Anna Dunstan.
Entering a tunnel of branches, we approached the hanging paper lanterns. You could feel a balmy sense of communal joy and merriment there. People that spend so much time looking down and seeing bad news were all forced to look up, to see beauty.
Photo by Kimberly Frost.
Our last stop was the Italian Gardens. There were flowers in bloom in the Via Florum that smelled like passionfruit and hibiscus. We followed our eyes through a succession of the primary and secondary colors, from red to violet. The violet imbued in us a sense of calm and gratefulness for having a gem like Maymont in our city.
Photo by Kimberly Frost.
There are several reasons to live in Richmond, and Maymont is one of the best. I, for one, am glad to have reasons in my life to smile, take pictures, make memories, and make life and the city slow down. Do that for yourself this fall at Garden Glow. This event is currently in full swing, and continues through Sunday, November 6. Tickets are available on Maymont’s website, as are memberships, which will get you discounts on tickets and help support Maymont year-round. Finally, if you have time to lend a hand to volunteer, they are glad to have you. And it’s good for your resume. Learn more about volunteer opportunities at Maymont’s website.
Top Photo by Kimberly Frost.
