“Frost: An Ice-Capped Garden Experience,” a show running through Jan. 5 at the Cleveland Botanical Garden, brings the wonder back to winter. Even the tropical Costa Rica and Madagascar biomes are included in this year’s show, where the adventure continues outdoors with walks in 10 acres of winter gardens adorned with twinkle lights. At the Cleveland Botanical Garden’s “Frost: An Ice-Capped Garden Experience,” a revolving tower depicting the days of Christmas is filled with creatures for each day. (Janet Podolak – For The News-Herald) Taking a “Once Upon a Time” fantasy approach, the show explains how the seasons and their plants came to be. Signs introduce the spirits: “Long ago, the world and all its beings were cloaked in darkness. Taking pity on the plants and animals, the spirits Verglas, Raine and Shine set out to change the earth. First, Shine opened his heart to bathe the land in light. His favorite plants thrived, but others wilted in the heat. Raine saw this and began to weep, watering their leaves with her tears until they grew dense and shaded.” Winter, it says, began with an argument among the spirits: “Chaos overtook the skies as Raine and Shine argued. The plants and animals could get no rest, so Verglas blew ice and snow over the earth until all was frozen and quiet. In the stillness, the spirits saw their mistake and chose to bring balance instead. From that moment on, they agreed to work together to create different seasons so all living things could thrive.” Visitors walk through a tunnel of head-to-toe white and lavender poinsettias to meet Verglas, the spirit of winter, where animals such as penguins and polar bears have been created for close looks and another tunnel through the “snow” begs to be explored. Lighted pegs can be arranged as constellations by those seeking more interaction. Live Christmas trees, each with a storybook theme, have been created by affiliated garden clubs. They stand throughout the show. A giant glittering Christmas tree made from live plants welcomes visitors to “Frost: An Ice-Capped Garden Experience” at the Cleveland Botanical Garden. (Janet Podolak – For The News-Herald) Look closely among the branches of the tree celebrating “The Gnomes’ Winter Journey,” by Ernst Kreidolf, and you’ll want to get that book. Full of wonderful details, it can be found near the show’s entrance. Check out the top of this gnome tree, among the 12-foot-high live trees decorated by area garden clubs for this year’s “Frost: An Ice-Capped Garden Experience” at the Cleveland Botanical Garden. (Janet Podolak – For The News-Herald) Enter the Madagascar glasshouse to meet the spirits Raine and Shine and discover wet and dry winter. In the bright world of Shine, the narration explains, big leaves aren’t needed to soak up the abundant sunshine. So plants in Madagascar develop narrow spines and trees with large trunks to store that country’s minimal moisture. At the Cleveland Botanical Garden’s “Frost: An Ice-Capped Garden Experience,” the walk-through Spirit of Winter room is populated with handcrafted wintertime animals peeking out from snowdrifts. (Janet Podolak – For The News-Herald) Botanical connections continue in the areas where the 18th annual display of gingerbread houses brings close-up looks at examples of edible holiday cheer. Signs explain how plants are the origins for gingerbread house ingredients such as ginger, sugar, flour and even marshmallows. The 60 gingerbread structures are in three areas: amateur adults, children and professional. Worth a long look is Kate Brown’s “Santa’s Frosty Barn,” truly amazing with stalls for each of the reindeer and a tree inside. When reached by phone, the Lyndhurst resident said she had invested about 100 hours in creating her gingerbread structure, starting in September and learning tricks on YouTube. Gingerbread houses on display during the Botanical Garden winter show, “Frost: An Ice-Capped Garden Experience,” include this one of Santa’s reindeer barn created by Kate Brown of Lyndhurst. (Janet Podolak – For The News-Herald) “It took over the house,” she said. “I worked on it on tables in both the kitchen and the dining room using a construction grade gingerbread recipe, which needed to dry over a weekend before being used.” At the Cleveland Botanical Garden’s “Frost: An Ice-Capped Garden Experience,” details on the revolving gingerbread structure are worth a closer look. (Janet Podolak – For The News-Herald) Ice cream cones were used for the trees and fondant for the figures of Santa and the reindeer. Santa himself was Brown’s muse. “I believe in Santa Claus,” she said. Another outstanding gingerbread creation is the 3-foot-tall, revolving “And the Christmas Countdown Begins!” by Stephanie Taub. Each of the days leading up to Christmas is portrayed with gnomes, elves and other holiday creatures. Timed tickets, which must be purchased in advance at Holdenfg.org, are needed to attend “Frost.” Prices vary according to the day of the week and entry time, with discounts for members and evening tickets costing more. Evening hours are on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, when live music, performances and visits with Santa take place. ‘Frost: An Ice-Capped Garden Experience’ Where: Cleveland Botanical Garden, 11030 East Blvd. When: Through Jan. 5. Tickets: Nonmembers — adults $22 to $26 and children $14 to $16; members — $5 to $15 adults and free to $8 for members. Note: Tickets must be purchased in advance online. Info: holdenfg.org or 216-721-1600.