When I buy the garden lights tickets, it states a time from 5 pm to 10 pm. Am I not allowed to enter the park before that time, or is that just when the light show begins?

Garden lights "show" or effects start at 5, but you can go beforehand. It's beautiful to walk the gardens in the daytime then retrace your path after the sun goes down.

Honestly, there's no point going before 5pm for the lights coz it's not dark yet.

I would like see the garden before it gets dark. Will they let me in at 3pm with the Garden Lights ticket?

Yes you are.

5pm is when the lights start. You can enter early though

Yes you can go inside before but the lights won't be on and you can stay much longervthsb 10 as long as you are inside the garden before 10

5 pm is when the holiday lights start. You can probably go beforehand but the show begins at that time