Before Dark

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The Missouri Botanical Garden is a wondrous place to visit on its own but the Lantern Festival has really drawn in the crowds. You can see the lanterns - more like very creative Chinese-themed sculptures with lights - during the day but it's just not the same. The garden has closed at 5 PM this summer, re-opening for the evening spectacular at 6. By the way, the show closes on August 19. Locals, you owe it to yourself to get over there quickly.

There are worthwhile sights at twilight. The photo above is part of a dragon set in the reflecting pool in front of the Climatron, seen in yesterday's second picture. Note that the scales are made of plates. Its whiskers are formed from cups, as we shall see soon.

First below, electrified glass and plastic waterlilies replace the real thing in a still lily pond.

Bottom, Buddha keeps watch over St. Louis at sunset. The town could use that for real. Any deity. Take your pick, but watch over us.

NEWS FLASH: a new show, [context]Texture opened in the main gallery of Art St. Louis last night. It features 52 works by St. Louis area artists reflecting the theme. Two of my photographs were accepted. I FINALLY SOLD SOMETHING, the picture on the left of a woman standing on the levee watching the Mississippi on a cold day. YIPPIE! I've been in a bunch of group shows over the last five years or so and never sold a thing. About time.