Bellagio’s Conservatory & Botanical Gardens
Courtesy of: Bellagio Las Vegas
Beginning this spring, Bellagio’s Conservatory & Botanical Gardens continues to feature a spectacular floral exhibition filled with vivid blooms and a magnificent one-of-a-kind series of large-scale bronze sculptural ants.
Inspired by the social nature of these industrious creatures, American artist Susan P. Cochran created a seven-member colony that represents the ideals of cooperation and teamwork.
You can enjoy four enchanting gardens that were created by Bellagio’s very talented horticulture staff. The staff provides a lush landscape for these intricately detailed creatures.
Resting below two towering yellow jonquils, a queen ant will allow guests to climb onto her back for a unique photo opportunity. The stunning 8,500-pound queen will provide an ideal vantage point for viewing an exhibit of botanical snails and bumblebees as well as brightly colored tulips, poppies, daisies, mums and daffodils.
Courtesy of: Bellagio Las Vegas
Just a few steps away, there are three 10-foot-long ants attentively preparing for the even warmer months ahead at the mouth of a 15-foot-tall flower pot, overflowing with rainbow-hued blooms. A beautiful spring butterfly will rest atop the over-sized pot while a towering 28-foot spade will stand nearby.
Overhead, bumble bees made of preserved sunflowers pause mid-flight in their tireless search for nectar.
Nearby is another first for Bellagio’s Conservatory – five giant mushrooms, ranging in size from 5 to 15 feet tall. These mushrooms will provide a natural canopy for the pair of 6-feet-tall ants found communicating below.
A jardin à la française, or French garden, will complete this fantasy botanical wonderland. Within its fragrant symmetrical borders, a large anthill will be flanked by two water spheres.
Courtesy of: Bellagio Las Vegas
A 3-foot-long ant will be seen crawling into the golden sunlight from its earthen tunnel as its industrious counterpart works nearby.
Throughout this mesmerizing exhibit, botany fans will delight to find a rare exhibition of 10 potted olive trees, each more than 100 years old. Over the years, these ancient trees have been carefully sculptured into oversized bonsai presentations.
For additional information on the exhibit within Bellagio’s Conservatory & Botanical Gardens, please visit: http://www.bellagio.com/amenities/botanical-garden.aspx