There’s a tiger hiding in plain sight at the Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens. No, Mike Tyson did not leave a door open to a suite where he was keeping a pet big cat. This tiger is 8,000 pounds of bronze stripes with a massive head, lapping at water from a pond. The see-through spaces between stripes give it camouflage at some angles while causing it to leap into view at others. It’s the centerpiece of Eye of the Tiger, Bellagio’s decorative observation of Lunar New Year 2022, symbolized by the water tiger.
The Tiger follows the Rat and Ox as the third animal in the zodiac. The good fortune and prosperity promised by the tiger, sure-footed and confident, guided the development by Bellagio’s horticulture and engineering teams. There are colors associated with the tiger, the element of water associated with this particular year, and the tiger’s own personality to consider when creating a New Year concept.
The process begins with questions, says the exhibit’s designer, Ed Libby: “What are the tiger’s traits? What did we make our animal out of last Lunar New Year? What do we think is going to be new and exciting and innovative for our guests to see? Can we get another artist involved and create a beautiful art piece in the Conservatory, as well as beautiful floral work?”
Strength, passion, bravery and ambition had to be imbued in the graceful poise of the tiger, which stands in the west bed accompanied by two gold fu dog fountains. Sturdy bamboo, bonsai trees, copper cattails, giant cherry blossoms and oversized tangerines made of roses create the tiger’s habitat, while I Ching coins hang from a money tree that symbolizes affluence and nobility.
“Each year, I research more and more with Far East marketing and take a deeper and deeper dive into Asian culture,” says Libby. “The tiger’s keeping a watchful eye on our guests and helping them with good fortune. The money tree is on top of a waterfall, so the good fortune flows toward out guests. That whole scene is guarded by the fu dogs, who basically are temple guards and guardians.”
More than 5,700 plants fill the 14,000-square-foot Conservatory. Lotus flowers, lily pads, giant gold coins and silk-lantern chandeliers are laid out following the harmonic, positive-energy principles of feng shui. An eight-level pagoda, inspired by the Temple of the Six Banyan Trees (built in A.D. 537) of Guangzhou, China, dominates the south bed, while the north bed’s exquisite tea house overlooks regal red peonies and a pond in which live koi fish swim.
“Each bed has several great stories,” says Libby. “The tea ceremony is all about hospitality and discipline, just really about entertainment in a gracious and special way. The peonies are considered the king of all flowers and represent good fortune. In that same bed is a very hard bench and the book of knowledge. The intent is that when people read the book of knowledge, they’re not supposed to get too comfortable.”
Bellagio, 702.693.7111
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