Among the first guests to arrive at a banquet hosted by the Jade Emperor that, according to Lunar New Year lore, would determine the order of the 12 astrological animals was the rabbit. Some legends say the rabbit arrived first and slipped while crossing a river to the banquet, while others say it took a nap as the rat, ox and tiger arrived, making the fourth phase in the astrological cycle The Year of the Rabbit.
It’s a period of peace, tranquility, good fortune and prosperity reflected in the current display at Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens. The goal for designer Ed Libby and Bellagio’s horticulture team was to honor Asian culture and tradition through an installation inspired by enlightenment and imagination.
“This is one of the most beautiful garden settings I think we’ve ever done at Bellagio,” says Libby. “The meaning is coming through in every bed, and the guests are very interested in what they’re seeing.”
Photo by: Courtesy of MGM Resorts International
In addition to increased signage identifying botanical species and providing facts about the display, QR codes give deeper dives into the meaning of the astrological cycle and Lunar New Year. Red, pink, purple and blue suggest the season, with bromeliads and succulents blooming in vibrant colors of white, hot pink and ruby red.
“Ed sets the tone and builds the story,” says Conservatory manager Lea Jonic. “He’s really thoughtful about everything he does. You take a look at it, you look at the renderings, and we find the right flowers and plant material and give the serene, peaceful, very gentle vibe to the room that fits his design.”
With the corresponding element of 2023 being water, the koi pond in the north bed takes on particularly special relevance. Topiary children constructed from an estimated 45,600 flowers frolic and fish around The Temple of Six Banyan Trees, which rises eight levels in front of a high-definition LED screen displaying scenes of fireworks and falling gold coins as live inhabitants swim through the water and effortlessly capture the attention of guests passing by.
Live zebra finches flit around inside a tall cage in the south bed, where pink lunar moths float above long-legged, intricately feathered cranes that preen for guests with reservations for The Garden Table. An unprecedented innovation that symbolizes the Jade Emperor’s banquet, guests can dine immersed in the Conservatory’s bucolic surroundings with prix-fixe menus for lunch and dinner prepared by Bellagio’s Pan-Asian restaurant Noodles. Reservations times are 1, 3, 6 and 8 p.m.
The meal comes with an incomparable view of the 32-foot-tall Year of the Water Rabbit sculpted medallion in the West Bed (the hero piece of the display sentried by twin bonsai trees) that reflects the rippling waters beneath it at night. Intricately crafted cloisonné cherry blossoms hang above fu dogs that watch over the surroundings. A 17-foot-tall statue of Chinese god of wealth Caishen in the east bed gazes in the direction of Bellagio’s entrance, while a nearby family of golden rabbits gather on a wooden bridge. Family, food, fun … what Lunar New Year is all about.
Bellagio, 702.693.7111
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