After all these years, the Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens never fails to take one’s breath away. Just steps from the casino floor’s relentless energy, this 14,000-square-foot floral wonderland offers something truly magical: a moment to breathe, wonder and lose yourself in beauty that changes with every season.
The Conservatory’s latest exhibit, Glam Menagerie: A Surrealist Summer, transforms the space into an enchanting garden party where baroque elegance meets whimsical fantasy. Designer Ed Libby and Bellagio’s talented horticulture team have created a dreamlike experience that blends surrealist art with the refined atmosphere of a European garden soirée. The result is a display that playfully blurs the boundaries between reality and imagination.
Photo by: Courtesy of MGM Resorts International
“Designing the summer display was more than just creating a beautiful garden—it was about transporting guests into an extraordinary realm where nature and opulence intertwine, surreal art comes to life and elegance blooms with every step,” said Libby. “Each element was chosen to challenge perception and celebrate luxury, imagination and the beauty of summertime.”
Start on the West Bed, where you’re greeted by a 20-foot-tall chess piece towering over a life-sized marble chessboard. Moss-covered pieces stand ready for a game straight out of a children’s fantasy book. Nearby, a pastel pink cockatoo swings from an ornate archway, a cheeky nod to “The Swing,” an eighth-century oil painting by Jean-Honoré Fragonard. Pink botanicals and crystal chandeliers cascade above, adding to the garden’s theatrical charm. If you’re feeling decadent, The Garden Table is tucked inside that towering chess piece, offering brunch from Sadelle’s or an opulent dinner from Michael Mina. (Reserve in advance by calling 702.693.7317—brunch accommodates a maximum of six guests, dinner four.)
The North Bed ups the glamour with topiary giraffe sisters and Tigress Giovanna, dressed to impress in Renaissance-inspired couture. A soft jasmine scent, illusion-filled LED screens and cherub fountains create an atmosphere that feels more Versailles than Vegas—but with better air conditioning and a more enthusiastic selfie-taking crowd.
Photo by: Courtesy of MGM Resorts International
Flamingos strike a pose in the East Bed’s gazebo, wading in waters that shimmer beneath antique lanterns. The South Bed plays host to zebras lounging beneath baroque chandeliers while a water feature performs a very-meta tribute to the Bellagio fountains just outside.
These are the big visuals that end up on Instagram, but it’s the little details that make the conservatory a treasure. This exhibit alone was built by 80 artists, engineers and horticulturists, featuring 22,000 plants and 125,000 pounds of ivy. The true beauty of this fantasy world is how well it takes care of the real world. Every drop of water is drawn from on-site underground wells that use rain and recycled water from the resort, and every plant gets a second life: repurposed, replanted or composted to keep thousands of pounds of waste out of landfills.
In a city built on illusion, the Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens offers something refreshingly real: living, breathing flora that celebrates nature’s beauty. No wonder guests return season after season to see what surreal dreams bloom next.
Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens is free and open 24/7. Glam Menagerie: A Surrealist Summer runs through Sept. 6.
Bellagio, 702.693.7871. bellagio.mgmresorts.com
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