Bellagio's Conservatory & Botanical Gardens has gone wild for the season. Through September 12, "Paradise: Nature's Most Beautiful Creations" turns the iconic atrium into a lush jungle filled with cascading vines, towering palms, tranquil waters and larger-than-life animal sculptures. Designed by Ed Libby and executed by Bellagio's Horticulture team, the display features more than 20,000 plants, 21 animals and a 40-foot treehouse rising above the Conservatory floor.
Each garden bed tells its own story. In the West Bed, elephants gather at a watering hole while monkeys and tree frogs hide in the foliage. The North Bed belongs to the tigers, including a 22-foot feline lounging mid-yawn, its coat adorned with 8,500 goose feathers. A lion and cub anchor the East Bed alongside flamingos and oversized passion flowers, while the South Bed's giraffes, their coats crafted from 900 pounds of flax seeds, stand watch beside blue herons.
The exhibit also introduces two dining experiences. The Garden Table, a treehouse-inspired retreat in the West Bed, returns with breakfast and brunch from Sadelle's ($135 per person) and dinner from Michael Mina Bellagio ($195 per person). New this year, The Watering Hole debuts as the Conservatory's first nightly cocktail experience, offering a three-course journey of handcrafted cocktails and small plates in the South Bed. Seatings run nightly at 6, 8 and 10 p.m., starting at $500 for parties of up to four; guests must be 21 or older.
Sustainability remains central to the display. Water comes from on-site wells using rain and recycled resort water, and spent plants are composted locally, diverting thousands of pounds of waste from landfills.
It took 100 employees working around the clock for six days to bring "Paradise" to life. Admission is free, and the Conservatory is open 24 hours a day.