UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Thousands of twinkling lights will transform The Arboretum at Penn State into a shimmering spectacle for the winter holidays.
Arboretum horticulturists and volunteers have been busy stringing lights on trees and shrubs and festooning the gardens with wreaths, planters and other seasonal decorations for the annual display.
The Arboretum gardens, which normally close at dusk, will remain open each night until 9 p.m. beginning Friday, Dec. 8, and into early January. The holiday lights will be on from 6 to 8 a.m. and 4 to 9 p.m. daily.
New this year will be lights and decorated trees and shrubs in the popular cave in the Childhood’s Gate Children’s Garden, said Marek Pundzak, director of horticulture and operations for the Arboretum.
“We’re lighting up that space in a fun, whimsical way,” Pundzak said. “I think it will be a wonderful kind of beacon.”
The tree in the glass house in the Children’s Garden, decorated with ornaments made by volunteers, local schoolchildren and scouts, will be viewable as of Dec. 15, said Aubrey Tallon, volunteer program manager for the Arboretum.
The Pollinator and Bird Garden features decorations made from cranberries, peanuts and suet-filled pinecones as offerings for wildlife visitors.
Pundzak said the holiday decorations across the Arboretum are designed to reflect the local landscape. Many of them — such as berries, pinecones and fir boughs — are collected from the Arboretum itself.
“There’s a lot of excitement and buzz,” Pundzak said. “It’s wonderful to create a space where people can come to a garden in the winter and enjoy it. We want this to be a year-round experience.”
Horticulturist Rychele Stipcak helped to decorate a stand in the pollinator garden along with volunteer Dayna Peechatka.
“We try to do something a little different every year to keep it fresh,” Stipcak said.
“It’s wonderful,” said Peechatka, who has volunteered at the Arboretum for the past two and a half years. “It’s just festive, family-friendly fun.”
The H.O. Smith Botanic Gardens are located at the corner of Bigler Road and East Park Avenue on the University Park campus. To learn more about the winter displays, visit the arboretum's website.