Flamingo Gardens (specifically the 10 acres when you enter) that’s normally closed at night is now open – and all lit up! This year, South Florida’s renowned botanical garden and wildlife sanctuary was chosen to host WINTER WONDERLAND and I, for one, consider these historic gardens to be an ideal location for resurrecting the sorely missed, family tradition of evening strolls through holiday light displays. All those magnificent tall trees along the winding paths serve as perfect limb “hangers” for shooting stars, lantern globes, and glittery iridescent streamers. And it’s so much fun to get lost – if only temporarily (because the roads circle back) – on hidden pathways of discovery. Like passing under an igloo-shaped work of art that looks like it dropped from outer space or suddenly confronting flashy-lit pink flamingos and other cute, bright LED-lit animals, clutching gift boxes or ornaments.
But perhaps the best part of seeing so many beautiful lights in so natural a setting is the live nature that accompanies your stroll. While most of the caged birds you pass are nocturnally asleep, we can still hear many calls of the wild. Believe it or not, I thought I heard a lion’s roar, but my ears deceived me. When I asked the local park “Elf,” he said I’d simply heard the cry of an excited flamingo. How very interesting.
The Winter Wonderland experience is open from 5:30 to 9 pm through December 30. I recommend arriving early (to beat the crowds, rush hour traffic, etc.). But mostly because during the magical twilight hour, you can still see catch some of the Garden’s famous natural wonders. Like a truly massive, 90-year-old Cluster Fig Ficus. This ancient tree is a marvel to behold, and you can’t miss it as it’s now encircled by a (do not cross) enormous bracelet of green Christmas lights. Native to India, this tree’s trunk (there are others around, but not as huge) is the largest in the entire state of Florida. I know this because I was still able to make out the tree’s signage in the dimming daylight.
After rounding the tree, my friend and I excitedly headed toward a strutting peacock in our path. And then discovered it was actually part of a family of three with a smaller young peahen in the middle. But the biggest wonder was when we next came upon an enormous peacock flock, and watched several birds take off to a neighboring tree. They can really fly high! Looking up at the tree, we discovered it held what appeared to be dozens of peacock families at every limb level – all the way to the very top! Wow! Several more strollers passed by in wonder as well, though we took their advice to move a bit to the side to avoid unwelcome bird “presents” dropping on our heads. For me, this natural aviary display rivaled even the most dazzling electrical exhibits in eliciting a sense of wonder!
But then we happened upon another favorite of mine – live music! In the next clearing – flanked by a tall, lit-up Christmas tree and old-fashioned ice cream truck – a highly proficient jazz band played on Wray Porch (fronting an old Florida-style house). What a perfect time, I thought, to take a break and enjoy the Broward College Jazz Ensemble, especially as they’d provided several rows of chairs right in front. I chose two as my friend went off to purchase ice cream treats from Hoffman’s Chocolates “Sweet Ride” ice cream truck. The band was playing classic jazz standards – we entered to “Autumn Leaves” – which suited the mood just fine. And I smiled at their professor’s advice to the uninitiated that it WAS okay to clap in the middle and express your enthusiasm (especially at riffs) unlike the classical music system where when you hold your applause till the very end.
After a few sets, including their Two O’clock Combo, we decided to resume our stroll and seemed to enter a special children’s Wonderland area of shooting snowflakes that fell in icy sparkles overhead (any artificial “snow” production in South Florida is always a favorite!). These snow showers logically formed the “entrance” to a visit with Santa at Banyan Lawn. And there was his throne, where a brightly costumed Elf informed us that Santa would be arriving for free picture-taking in half an hour. We bumped into Mrs. Claus, as well, who hosts a daily children’s storytime inside the Banyan Pavillion. (Santa’s hours are generally 5:30-9:00; Mrs. Claus reads stories at 6:00 and 7:00; and you can enjoy live music from 5:30 or 6:00-8:30. But do check the schedule for exact times, daily story selections, and alternating musical performances and musicians.
And then we met a live animal! – a regal black cat sat holding court at the opposite end of the lawn. When I asked our chatty Elf if this cat had simply wandered over or was a regular, he explained that kitty was also a Flamingo Gardens institution – a longtime resident whose origin remains a mystery but is considered to be anywhere between 16-26 years old.
Not too far off in the distance, we spotted high glowing lights. As we got closer, we realized these lights were real fires, whose yellow flames burned high and bright from two rectangular fire canisters at the “Smores Station.” We watch parents wield long sticks as they toast the largest marshmallows I’d ever seen in these flames, while their wide-eyed kids watch in wonder. Once toasted, the kids eagerly head with their families to smores creation centers – tables set up with packages of graham crackers and chocolate to create one’s own, freshly fired treats. (There are charges for this activity and ingredients.)
