Enchanted Airlie in the Rain

Since October Adam has been planning a "Christmas Date Surprise" for us -- a special date filled with Christmas beauty that I would love and we would both remember. He chose a trip to Enchanted Airlie in Wilmington. As you know, it was quite rainy that day, and this is an outdoor event. However, we took our gloves, Gill coats (sailing rain gear) and warm shoes, and we soldiered on! I'll share lots of photos of the gardens in their splendid lights. Airlie Gardens is along the water, making it yet more lovely. As we walked (twice) around all the paths and sites, beautiful Christmas music accompanied us.

 Early on the walking tour we still looked fairly dry and perky.

The Poinsettia House, where they sold hot beverages and popcorn. (We were still stuffed from dinner though.)

 Lit icicle tree:

 This exhibit, the Bottle Chapel, was my very favorite.

 It was all magical and lovely. Many families with children visited too.

 I was mesmerized by the lights in the trees.

 One of our first stops was the Airlie Oak, a stunning live oak tree in the center of a grassy sward.

 Replete with Spanish moss, the tree was underlit with alternating green, purple, blue, silver, and red glow on the moss.

 The gardens overlook Bradley Creek.

 A large fallen trunk abuts the walking pier from the creek.

 The Poinsettia House again -

By the end, we looked more like this:

It was a wonderful Christmas Date Surprise! I hope Adam does something like this every year, and I wouldn't mind going back to Enchanted Airlie again ... in dry weather.