The Great Pumpkin Ball & Gardens of Light

If you’ve been around here for the last few years, this post might not be anything new to you. However, there is always a little bit of different to these festivals every year.

Every year in Montreal Botanical Gardens are two simultaneous exhibits: The Great Pumpkin Ball in the greenhouse and Gardens of Light in the Chinese Garden made up of lanterns and the Japanese Garden with a full on lights show. While the Japanese Garden doesn’t change too much, the theme of the lanterns in the Chinese Garden change every year. This year was all about the Imperial Court meaning the emperor and Forbidden City.

Let me take you on a lovely tour!

The Great Pumpkin Ball

Gardens of Light – Chinese Gardens

This year the Chinese Gardens are going through some revamping so there is somewhat of changes of the placements of the lanterns and the route itself. However, it is still pretty impressive.

Gardens of Light – Japanese Gardens

If you want some of the more general flowers and close-ups (aka more artsy shots), please head over to my photography blog, Avenue of Daydreams. They will be coming up shortly once I get all the pics shorted.

That’s it for Gardens of Light and The Great Pumpkin Ball!
I went with my mom and it was tons of fun! 🙂

Montreal Lantern Festival 2012

The festivals are still going on in Montreal. I actually didn’t go to the big ones at all this summer, but I have a few festivals I will be trying to head out to in October.  Hopefully I’ll get the chance!

On Friday night, I went out after work with one of my good friends to do photo shooting of the Lantern Festival at Montreal Botanical Gardens.  I went a few years back but it was so crowded I didn’t even finish seeing everything and left.  This year, we went through not only the Lantern Festival in the Chinese Gardens but also went to see the Evening Tour Route in the Japanese Pavillion.  Due to the huge amounts of photos, I will have to split this into two posts as well. So for this one, the main focus of the event: LANTERNS!

Lanterns are a part of the tradition in celebration of the Midautumn/Moon Festival.  I used to have a little lantern and we’d walk around with it. It was a time for blessings for the whole family.

Lantern Festival

The lanterns were shaped in various historic characters/people, mystical creatures, and animals.  We had soldiers, the Yellow Emperor (the first emperor of China), Pandas (with baby ones), Cranes, tiger, and various types of common peasants such as farmers, etc. There were the mystical creatures like dragons and phoenix.  Lots of normal lanterns lit all the paths around the Chinese garden where it would lead to higher grounds.  It was very beautiful.  Just the reflection of the lanterns in the water were mesmerizing.  Just look at it!

 

Colourful, right? Its just so beautiful!