the wellingtonista: Botanic Gardens for August

Last night, on my way out with Wilma, I ran into a woman I used to date at University. She & I then walked down the path from the Cable car to the Glen. On the way down she noted "Wow... this path is a lot murkier than I expected.", "You should see it later" I replied.

She laughed & agreed it must be pretty dark, "Not even the faint light of glow worms to show the way".

But I had to disagree, that particular path, on a dark night, is like walking through the heavens. It is astonishing. Of course, glowworms don't throw out enough light to see where you're going, and a torch is absolutely required to avoid falling down a steep bank into the surprisingly large stream (where DOES all the water in the gardens come from anyway?)

But you can stop, and turn your light off & the view is lovely. Have you seen that bit of Immortal Beloved, where Gary Oldman as Beethoven, floats in a pond in the middle of the night, gazing up at the sky, and the stars are all reflected in the water, and one of his famous tunes is playing over the soundtrack? It's magic. And so are the glowworms on a good night.

Tonight, at 7.30pm, there is a "Glowworm tour" of the Botanic Gardens. Apparently you have to book, but it is not immediately apparent how you do that. I guess follow all the links if you're keen.

Otherwise... any dark night you care to, enter the gardens from the Glen in Kelburn, take either path to your right or left (although if you go right, then take the next right up the hill), and be amazed.

the wellingtonista: Botanic Gardens for August