Jardins en Lumière : Bright Nights

Jardins de lumière 2016 / Gardens of light 2016. Photo Sebastian Mora. Jardins de lumière 2016 / Gardens of light 2016. Photo Sebastian Mora.

Text by Rachel Levine

A beloved annual event, the annual Jardins en Lumière transforms the Jardin Botanique’s Chinese and Japanese gardens with colourful lanterns. These are not your traditional paper lanterns that hang from the tree. Oh no. These are massive sculptures of dragons, pandas, fish, cities, and people. An audiovisual presentation takes over the Japanese Garden, inspired by sumi-e wash painting. The Chinese Garden features installations about the life of the Son of Heaven, the Chinese Emperor. Those who want a 20 minute guided tour can meet at the entrance courtyard at 6 p.m. for the French tour, 6:30 p.m. for the English tour. The enchanted experience draws crowds nightly. We sent Sebastian Mora to check the event out in case you don’t have a chance to see it for yourself.

Check out Jardins en Lumière/Gardens of Light at the Jardin Botanique (4101 Sherbrooke E) from September 2 to October 31 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tickets $19.75 adults, $18.25 for 65+, $14.50 students with card, and $10 for the 5 to 17 year olds. The best viewing is when the sun has set. For additional info, click HERE.

Jardins de lumière 2016 / Gardens of light 2016. Photo Sebastian Mora.

Jardins de lumière 2016 / Gardens of light 2016. Photo Sebastian Mora.

Jardins de lumière 2016 / Gardens of light 2016. Photo Sebastian Mora.

Jardins de lumière 2016 / Gardens of light 2016. Photo Sebastian Mora.

Jardins de lumière 2016 / Gardens of light 2016. Photo Sebastian Mora.

Jardins de lumière 2016 / Gardens of light 2016. Photo Sebastian Mora.

Jardins de lumière 2016 / Gardens of light 2016. Photo Sebastian Mora.

Jardins de lumière 2016 / Gardens of light 2016. Photo Sebastian Mora.

Jardins de lumière 2016 / Gardens of light 2016. Photo Sebastian Mora.

Jardins de lumière 2016 / Gardens of light 2016. Photo Sebastian Mora.

Jardins de lumière 2016 / Gardens of light 2016. Photo Sebastian Mora.

Jardins de lumière 2016 / Gardens of light 2016. Photo Sebastian Mora.

Jardins de lumière 2016 / Gardens of light 2016. Photo Sebastian Mora.

Jardins de lumière 2016 / Gardens of light 2016. Photo Sebastian Mora.

Jardins de lumière 2016 / Gardens of light 2016. Photo Sebastian Mora.

Jardins de lumière 2016 / Gardens of light 2016. Photo Sebastian Mora.

Jardins de lumière 2016 / Gardens of light 2016. Photo Sebastian Mora.

Jardins de lumière 2016 / Gardens of light 2016. Photo Sebastian Mora.

Jardins de lumière 2016 / Gardens of light 2016. Jardin Botanique. Photo Sebastian Mora.

Jardins de lumière 2016 / Gardens of light 2016. Jardin Botanique. Photo Sebastian Mora.

Jardins de lumière 2016 / Gardens of light 2016. Jardin Botanique. Photo Sebastian Mora.

Jardins de lumière 2016 / Gardens of light 2016. Jardin Botanique. Photo Sebastian Mora.

Jardins de lumière 2016 / Gardens of light 2016. Jardin Botanique. Photo Sebastian Mora.

Jardins de lumière 2016 / Gardens of light 2016. Jardin Botanique. Photo Sebastian Mora.

Jardins de lumière 2016 / Gardens of light 2016. Jardin Botanique. Photo Sebastian Mora.

Jardins de lumière 2016 / Gardens of light 2016. Jardin Botanique. Photo Sebastian Mora.

Jardins de lumière 2016 / Gardens of light 2016. Jardin Botanique. Photo Sebastian Mora.

Jardins de lumière 2016 / Gardens of light 2016. Jardin Botanique. Photo Sebastian Mora.

Jardins de lumière 2016 / Gardens of light 2016. Jardin Botanique. Photo Sebastian Mora.

Jardins de lumière 2016 / Gardens of light 2016. Jardin Botanique. Photo Sebastian Mora.

Jardins de lumière 2016 / Gardens of light 2016. Jardin Botanique. Photo Sebastian Mora.

Jardins de lumière 2016 / Gardens of light 2016. Jardin Botanique. Photo Sebastian Mora.

Jardins de lumière 2016 / Gardens of light 2016. Jardin Botanique. Photo Sebastian Mora.

Jardins de lumière 2016 / Gardens of light 2016. Jardin Botanique. Photo Sebastian Mora.

Jardins de lumière 2016 / Gardens of light 2016. Jardin Botanique. Photo Sebastian Mora.

Jardins de lumière 2016 / Gardens of light 2016. Jardin Botanique. Photo Sebastian Mora.

Jardins de lumière 2016 / Gardens of light 2016. Jardin Botanique. Photo Sebastian Mora.

Jardins de lumière 2016 / Gardens of light 2016. Jardin Botanique. Photo Sebastian Mora.

Jardins de lumière 2016 / Gardens of light 2016. Jardin Botanique. Photo Sebastian Mora.

Jardins de lumière 2016 / Gardens of light 2016. Jardin Botanique. Photo Sebastian Mora.

Jardins de lumière 2016 / Gardens of light 2016. Jardin Botanique. Photo Sebastian Mora.

Jardins de lumière 2016 / Gardens of light 2016. Jardin Botanique. Photo Sebastian Mora.

Jardins de lumière 2016 / Gardens of light 2016. Jardin Botanique. Photo Sebastian Mora.

Jardins de lumière 2016 / Gardens of light 2016. Jardin Botanique. Photo Sebastian Mora.

Jardins de lumière 2016 / Gardens of light 2016. Jardin Botanique. Photo Sebastian Mora.

Jardins de lumière 2016 / Gardens of light 2016. Jardin Botanique. Photo Sebastian Mora.

Jardins de lumière 2016 / Gardens of light 2016. Jardin Botanique. Photo Sebastian Mora.

Jardins de lumière 2016 / Gardens of light 2016. Jardin Botanique. Photo Sebastian Mora.

Jardins de lumière 2016 / Gardens of light 2016. Jardin Botanique. Photo Sebastian Mora.

Jardins de lumière 2016 / Gardens of light 2016. Jardin Botanique. Photo Sebastian Mora.

Jardins de lumière 2016 / Gardens of light 2016. Jardin Botanique. Photo Sebastian Mora.

Jardins de lumière 2016 / Gardens of light 2016. Jardin Botanique. Photo Sebastian Mora.

Jardins de lumière 2016 / Gardens of light 2016. Jardin Botanique. Photo Sebastian Mora.

Jardins de lumière 2016 / Gardens of light 2016. Jardin Botanique. Photo Sebastian Mora.

Jardins de lumière 2016 / Gardens of light 2016. Jardin Botanique. Photo Sebastian Mora.

Jardins de lumière 2016 / Gardens of light 2016. Jardin Botanique. Photo Sebastian Mora.

Jardins de lumière 2016 / Gardens of light 2016. Jardin Botanique. Photo Sebastian Mora.

Jardins de lumière 2016 / Gardens of light 2016. Jardin Botanique. Photo Sebastian Mora.