Give cynicism the boot … spend time in a garden

The classic novella A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens is always a reminder that the season is not about happiness through buying or hoarding things.

Cynical, old Ebenezer Scrooge learned the hard way about his miserable existence, which he paid for at the expense of himself and those around him. It is a classic tale about accumulating wealth that never gratifies, where he ends up in a greedy, unsatisfied existence.

A Christmas Carol has never gone out of print since the time Charles Dickens wrote it. A century and a half later, we still find it on the shelves of our favorite bookstores. The story deeply resonates with our humanity.

In response to concerns over the gap between the rich and poor in England and the exploitation of child workers, Dickens wrote the novella. Exploitation is as real a problem today as it was back when he penned the story.

Today, Dickens’ concerns might include our desire to buy happiness as cheaply as possible. Even if keeping the costs down on goods means the exploitation and misery of people on a global scale — all for more stuff, primarily meaningless stuff.

We don’t have to choose cynicism. We don’t need to go to the big stores and fight to find a parking space, fight the crowded lines, or fight over goods laid out on the table. Isn’t it strange that shopping at this time of the year contains so many fight words?

I believe we make the holidays what we want and what aligns with our values. If I want to take the commercial out of Christmas, I step away from the commercial!

What will our hearts remember about this holiday season? Most likely, the time we spent together, the family stories, and our connections to friends. These are more precious than any item at a store. Happiness comes wrapped up in the gift of giving ourselves to others.

In the end, what we regret is the time we didn’t spend with loved ones, not what gifts we didn’t give or receive.

What has any of this to do with a garden? Spending time with friends and family in a garden decorated for the season, I think, is a splendid way to take the fight out of Christmas.

Some of the following gardens charge a fee; however, these are not extensive commercial operations, and money spent in these places stays within our communities. These gardens are stress-free environments where you become a participant in the enchanting experience — a great way to unwind with loved ones and reconnect to the magic of the season. Best of all, there is no bah humbug in the garden!

Bellevue Botanical Garden brings us the charming Garden d’lights and is worth a trip across the moat. The garden displays use over ½ million lights put together by volunteers in the community and beyond! Be prepared to ooh and aah over the charming collection of lights. Fee.

Just across the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, you can enjoy the Pt Defiance Zoolights. Another event with lights in the zoo garden, plus the admission fee, includes viewing the nocturnal animals, camel rides, meerkats and piranhas, and a giant octopus or two. Santa diving with the sharks? Oh yes, that too! Fee (no admission fee for children under 2.)

Meanwhile, back on the Kitsap Peninsula, we have some great Christmas displays in gardens we can tour.

In Poulsbo, Christmas in Big Valley is about a 600-foot long path through woodland, featuring over 65,000 lights, elves, the Clauses, a nativity, a garden railroad and more. — Fee (no admission fee for children under 6).

How about an Octopus’s Garden? On the Kitsap Peninsula’s north end, The Port of Kingston decorates the garden areas around Mike Wallace Park with fun underwater characters and flowers sculpted with lights. The displays have expanded so that most of the park is decorated with lights. — Free.

Many community events around the peninsula kick off at the beginning of December with many fun ways we can enjoy ourselves with our loved ones. The volunteers who give their time to our communities make many of these events possible.

I wish you a joyful holiday season, whether it’s gathering for Christmas, lighting a candle for the solstice, or any other way you celebrate your special winter holidays!

Written initially for the Garden Life column in the Kitsap Weekly Newspaper insert — December 2015.