Halloween Glow N’ Stroll: A Spooktacular Night
Albuquerque Garden Center!
Aaron Greenwood
The New Mexico Dahlia Society area at the Albuquerque Garden Center. On the Right is John Hickerson’s memorial bench. John was one of the charter members of the New Mexico Dahlia Society.
The tombstones are the harbingers of the end of the dahlia season. It will be cold soon, colder than on Pumpkin Hill on Halloween. Time is getting close to when the tubers will be come out of the ground and for the winter.
“The Good Farmer” Edith Iwan, President of the New Mexico Dahlia Society is having a good time giving away fresh cut dahlias to strollers. The dahlias came from her garden and the NMDS community garden plots at the Agri-Nature Center.
The Last Dahlia of the Season is not the title of a poem, short story, or a song. It is the reality of a bloom that represents the coming end of a long growing season.
The Glow ‘N’ Stroll is an Albuquerque Garden Center tradition. The centerpiece of this event has to be “Pumpkin Hill”. It’s the ONLY one in Albuquerque and a fan favorite. All the Jack-o’-lanterns are carved by the Center’s member clubs.
The Glow ‘N’ Stroll is an illuminated garden experience. This year’s displays had themes based on movies, such as Alien, Harry Potter and Wicked. And there was a Classical music ensemble too!
Visitors are encouraged to come in costume and take advantage of several photo-op locations. There was also a fortune teller for those brave enough. There were over 500 visitors this year and as they say, a good time was had by all.
Dina Bello installing lighting in the NMDS area of the ABQ Garden Center in preparation for the Glow ‘N’ Stroll.
Master Jack-o’-lantern creator Aaron Greenwood using a traditional hand method for cleaning a pumpkin.
These three old school jack-o’-lanterns celebrated the Glow ‘N’ Stroll on Pumpkin Hill.
Is she a ghost? The Lady in White (Dina Bello) has come to visit her Dahlias. Some say her favorite is waterlilly Dahlia ‘White Onesta’.
The young princess in the firefly dress is enjoying the dahlias on a magical evening walk in the garden.
A classical ensemble plays music to the delight of all.
Mr. Jack-o’-lantern is looking pretty mean. They say Jack-o’-lanterns came from the bogs of the ancient Celts. It is a terrifying story.
The legend of Sleep Hollow is a frightful tale about one Ichabod Crane and a Headless Horseman, and is the theme of the NMDS dahlia bed.
John Hickerson’s memorial bench is a favorite for The Weary after a long trek through the lands of the Glow N’ Stroll.
Photo Credits:
Dina Bello all except where noted
Aaron Greenwood: 4, 5 & 6
Edith Iwan, photos 2 & 3
Albuquerque Garden Center, Pumpkin Hill photo