By AP/KWMU
St. Louis, MO – The popular "Glass in the Garden" exhibit at the Missouri Botanical Garden is extending its stay, through New Year's Day.
Close to a million visitors are expected to view artist Dale Chihuly's fiery glass chandeliers, multicolored onion bulbs and blue ice cubes. That's more than double the garden's attendance for the same period last year.
The exhibit opened April 30th and was scheduled to close at the end of this month.
It has shattered attendance records, attracted thousands of new members and generated a 30% spike in ticket, gift shop, restaurant and rental revenue. That's welcome news for an institution that has watched crowds dwindle even though it's considered one of the world's best gardens and a leader in plant research.