Mill Pond Garden to host light show class Dec. 3

Outdoor lighting for the dark of winter is a pleasure for many, and a delight to children and communities.

Mill Pond Garden will offer a one-time class on outdoor lighting, with demonstrations and tips for best results and safety, from 2:30 to 4 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 3, at 31401 Melloy Court, Lewes. Masks and social distancing apply.

Instructing the class will be Michael Zajic, who trained at Longwood Gardens in light show logistics and electric management. Zajic created world-class, million-light shows at Brookside Gardens in Maryland and Lewis Ginter Botanic Gardens in Richmond, Va. His designs have been adopted and copied by light manufacturers, and he introduced to manufacturing the wider range of color choices available for light sets, colors not available before 1990. This is a small class with only 28 tickets available online to subscribers. To subscribe free to get invitations or tickets to classes, events and open garden days, go to millpondgarden.com.

LED or light-emitting diode lights have created a revolution in the possibilities for outdoor lights. Homeowners can light a lot more for much less energy and cost than when using incandescent lighting.

A string of 50 LED lights uses only 3.45 watts of electricity, whereas a string of 50 incandescent lights uses 23 watts. LED lights can last 25,000 hours compared with 1,500 hours for an incandescent light set. LED lights are usually physically tougher and more sturdily made than string incandescent lights. Also available now in stores and online are solar-powered light sets, operated by a small solar panel on a stake. Solar lights work fine, but they are not as bright as grid electric-powered sets and serve best as accents.

The photos include the monthly cost for a typical modest light display, a heavy display, and an enthusiastic display, with comparative cost of LED and incandescent lights for each size display. While incandescent light sets are cheaper to buy, about one-third the cost of LED light sets, the difference in cost of electricity used makes the LED lights a huge win for the homeowner’s electric bill, the electric grid, and the planet. LED is green and good, cost-effective and long-lasting.

One can consider making LED lights part of the garden magic year-round, especially around a patio for outdoor evening entertaining or enjoyment. Lights are fun. Lights make eyes light up with happiness for children of all ages, and can do so all year long.

Now that LED lights make it possible for homeowners to install significant displays for very little cost and electricity demand, there is a need for some pointers on how to create displays of beauty, design tips, how to store lights, how to rig electrical supply, and safety advice on both electric supply and use of ladders. 

Mill Pond Gardens’ annual Garden of Lights Show runs through Friday, Jan. 1, weather permitting, with shows about twice a week with tickets available online a week before each show, so good-weather days can be scheduled.

A crew of three gardeners installed the 35,000 LED light show from early September to mid-November. The next three light shows are set for 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Friday, Dec. 4, Sunday, Dec. 6, and Monday, Dec. 7, with tickets available at millpondgarden.com. More shows will be scheduled later when weather forecasts are verifiable.