Ms. Pigette tells me that on weekends, Route 27 carries a steady stream of traffic coming into and out of our town. She should know, as she stands alongside the road holding up a mailbox across the street from Joan Rittall’s home.

As it is almost Christmas, she reluctantly traded in her “mad bomber” hat and heavy coat for festive holiday glad rags, but she still keeps a close eye on our community.

“So,” she said with a wink and an oink. “What gives? The summer season is over. Why are tourists still coming here? You’re supposed to be a big shot reporter, why don’t you find out.”

Well, Ms. P, with all due respect, they are coming here on the weekends to visit the Coastal Maine Botanical Garden’s Christmas lights celebration called “Gardens Aglow.” But then, if you had read the Boothbay Register and the Wiscasset Newspaper, you would have known that was what was going on.

“Don’t diss me, buster,” she said. “I am too busy reading the special counsel filings to bother with plants and bugs. Just tell me, what gives and what does it mean.”

OK. Here is the skinny, I answered. So far this year, thousands of visitors have come to the Gardens for the weekend holiday light show. Attendance is up about 10 percent from last year.

Last year, they had about 78,000 visitors, and they anticipate hosting 100,000 this year, according to Kris Folsom, a Gardens spokeswoman.

“Stop there for one moment, Buster,” Ms. P snapped. “You are telling me that a hundred thousand people from away are visiting an outdoor botanical garden located in Boothbay in the winter?”

Ayup, I answered using my best fake Scrimpy Lewis accent. They expect 100,000 people will brave the winter winds and pay good money to visit the Gardens at Christmastime.

“So, what does this mean for the town, other than more business for the road paving crews? Is the dreaded roundabout helping traffic? Do any of those tourists exercise their Visa Gold Cards with our local establishments,” she asked.

Funny you should ask. Sheriff Todd Brackett says the roundabout has solved most of the Gardens’ traffic problems and some of our business friends are upbeat and hopeful.

For example, over at the Thistle Inn. You remember the old Thistle, Ms. P, and the good times there when it was the only open restaurant in the wintertime? “Yes, Yes, I do,” she said. “And that is another story for another time, like never.”

Well, I said. Josh Tirado, the director of the Thistle’s social events, used the word “tremendous” when asked if his business was up. “We have had a significant influx of visitors to our restaurant and the Inn. We are booked up, and I have had to call around to other lodging places to try to find rooms for callers. Our location makes it easy for Gardens visitors to enjoy dinner, or check in, then walk a block or so down to the town office, where they can wait in a warm shed for the shuttle.

Over at the Russell House, a lovely lady, who asked that her name not be used, admitted they are pretty full. In fact, except for the last weekend in December, they are booked up. “It has done wonders for us,” she said. Do the visitors like the Gardens show? I asked. “They love it,” she said.

Tim Lewis at the Midtown Motel says his business is up, too.

“What about other restaurants,” asked Ms. Pigette.

Mark Guerin, of the Boathouse Bistro and Mine Oyster, said both places are busy on Friday and Saturday evenings and 80 percent of the customers are Gardens visitors.

“We are not summer slammed when we can do 700 customers on the weekend. But we do 80 to 100 customers a night, and that is great for this time of the year,” he said.

I told Ms. P that Kim Martin, the smiling elf who owns my favorite upscale deli, Eventide Specialities, is hopeful.

Just for the record, Ms. P gets nervous when I talk to Ms. Martin as she sells some tasty pork products.

This is the third year she has stayed open late for the Gardens. “The first two years of the show were not so good. But on Friday after Thanksgiving, things started to look up. Three groups got off the shuttle and walked down the hill where they spent some real money on wine and cheese and other stuff,” she said.

The day of the lighted boat parade was great, too. As for the rest of the holiday season? “I am hopeful,” she said.