We know many Maine residents make day trips to the Boothbay peninsula in the summer, but in December? Who would believe it? Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens has succeeded in proving that where there’s a will, there’s a way and their spectacular Gardens Aglow attraction has literally brought thousands of visitors to Boothbay since the lights officially came on in late November. If you’ve driven up or down Route 27 the past few weeks between 4 and 8 p.m., you’ve been met with a steady stream of headlights coming at you. The bulk of them are going to, or coming from, the Botanical Gardens.

The ambitious project is mind-boggling – over 200,000 lights throughout the gardens. It didn’t “just happen.’’ It’s been underway since August and is truly a labor of love. Those of us who normally place lights on just one tree during the Christmas season or string a few lights outside our homes can’t really fathom what it must be like to tackle scores of trees, walkways and buildings with sparkling LED lights which, by the way, go far beyond what most of us would term energy-efficient.

We loved the Boothbay selectmen’s recent discussion suggesting that another year, the town go all-out to light the Boothbay Common, since all Gardens visitors must go past it. They further commented on how great it would be if Boothbay homeowners joined in with Christmas lights themselves as a way of welcoming the visitors to the town, perhaps encouraged by some type of competition such as those which were held in the past – another great idea.

Our hats are off to all of those at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens who have in any way played a part in this successful venture and made this a winter destination for families from far and near. We all know what a tremendous impact they already have on tourism here on the peninsula during their “normal’’ spring/summer/fall season, but this  Gardens Aglow project is really beyond words. The peninsula’s Festival of Trees, gingerbread displays, Polar Express at the Railway Village, Harbor Lights and other events, and now, the Botanical Gardens winter spectacular, make us especially thankful this holiday season for all the people, places and things helping make our lives a whole lot more enjoyable.