Spring Blooms with Japanese Inspiration in
Bellagio’s New Conservatory & Botanical Gardens Display
Breathe in the arrival of spring at Bellagio’s Conservatory & Botanical Gardens’ Japanese-inspired display, fragrant with 65,000 flowers and botanical materials. Blooming cherry blossoms, tranquil waterfalls and a 26-foot whimsical woman welcome the new season, now through June 3.
Envisioned by designer Ed Libby and Bellagio’s Horticulture team, the new display channels Japanese culture, utilizing a variety of beautiful symbolic elements to honor the dawning of a new season. One of the most treasured elements is also one of the most celebrated in Japan: the spring blooms of cherry blossoms, which are symbolic of the brevity of life and beauty.
Guests enter the gardens through two 25-foot Torii Gates adorned with pink and white flowers. Lining the pathway are eight cherry blossom trees flourishing with delicate pink flowers. Resting at the East Garden’s edge are four potted bonsai trees. Two brightly colored paradise flycatchers soar above the display.
Representing a time of new life and renewal, the West Garden features a whimsical woman rising out of the waters and leaving visitors in awe. Her hair cascades down into a curtain of water encompassing her entire head, which is adorned with Kanzashi, a formal ornamental hairpin. Made from two sticks and flowers, the hairpin is worn in Japanese culture as a good luck charm and wards off evil spirits. Wisteria, an ancient vine representing immortality and longevity, surrounds the majestic figure as she holds a 12-foot-wide white pearl, symbolizing prosperity and beauty.
In the South Garden, passersby encounter a 10-foot-tall stone Japanese lantern, traditionally used to line and illuminate paths. The lantern rests upon a waterfall cascading into a shallow pond. Floating atop the water are multiple blooming pink lotus flowers. The flower is honored throughout Japanese culture for its ability to bloom from the mud of a murky pond – a process which symbolizes attaining enlightenment. Thirteen hand-painted festival lanterns illuminate a soft flickering glow over the garden when dusk arrives.
Honoring the traditional Japanese tea ceremony of grace, etiquette and hospitality that dates back to the ninth century, a Japanese tea house sits on the edge of a pond in the North Garden. The 12-foot-tall house is made of bamboo and other natural materials, and ornamented with mineral copper accents. Sitting on the branch of the cherry blossom tree is an additional paradise flycatcher watching its reflection in the pond below.
Bellagio’s Conservatory & Botanical Gardens is complimentary to the public and open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Join the conversation on social media with @Bellagio on Twitter and #BellagioGardens.
Spring Display by the Numbers
- 65,000: Total number of flowers on display for the duration of the exhibit
- 900: Number of flowers used to create the turtle
- 125: Team members who participate in the display’s assembly
- 26 feet: Height of the West Bed’s mystical woman
- 25 feet: Height of each Torii gate
- 13: Number of Japanese festival lanterns
- 10 feet: Height of Japanese lantern tower
- 12 feet: Height of the tea house
- 3: Number of paradise flycatchers
- 9: Number of cherry blossom trees
About Bellagio Resort & Casino
Inspired by the beautiful villages of Europe, the AAA Five Diamond Bellagio Resort & Casino overlooks a Mediterranean-blue, 8 ½-acre lake, where fountains perform a magnificent aquatic ballet choreographed to music and lights. Within Bellagio are award-winning dining experiences including two AAA Five Diamond restaurants, Julian Serrano’s Picasso and Le Cirque from the renowned Maccioni family. Bellagio is home to an impressive collection of luxury retailers including Valentino, Louis Vuitton, Giorgio Armani, Gucci, Tiffany & Co., Breguet, Prada, Chanel, Dior, Fendi, Bottega Veneta, Hermès, SJP by Sarah Jessica Parker and OMEGA. A world-class art gallery, the exquisite Conservatory & Botanical Gardens, the stunning “O” by Cirque du Soleil, a luxurious spa and salon, dynamic nightlife at The Bank, Hyde Bellagio and Lily Bar & Lounge and an elegant casino all add to the extraordinary Bellagio experience. Bellagio is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM). For more information and reservations, visit bellagio.com, call toll free at (888) 987-6667or find us on Facebook and Twitter.
