Pic Today 5/2/12

THE DRAGON'S COMING

It's getting closer.

And so are 25 other larger-than-life

traditional Chinese creatures, and masks,

and incredible, colorful lantern scenes.

The Lantern Festival is coming to

Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis,

May 26 - August 19.

Lantern festivals have a long tradition in China,

but this Lantern Festival will be the first

of its kind in the United States.

A Chinese construction team of artisans, welders,

silk tailors and lantern makers will spend

one month constructing 26 giant lantern scenes

throughout the garden,

crafted of miles of steel and silk.

Each display will add a riot of color at day,

and will be lit each evening at sunset.

(More photos of the artisans at work

on tomorrow's blog, including a 100-foot

dragon made of tea cups, saucers and string!)