The Conservatory and Gardens of the Bellagio Hotel

The Bellagio Hotel, Las Vegas
Conservatory and Gardens

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When you think of Las Vegas you don't ordinarily think of gardens. At least we didn't until we were given the opportunity to visit the conservatory and gardens of the Bellagio Hotel and Casino.

Entering the hotel lobby you immediately know that something is different here. The air is filled with the aromas of fresh cut flowers. Huge colorful displays seem to be everywhere and even though we visited in late January it smelled like spring. Follow your nose and your eyes and you will soon find yourself in the Conservatory - The Bellagio's gift to gardeners. Unlike any other room you will find in a casino hotel the conservatory is flooded with sunlight pouring in from the beautiful glass and steel domed ceiling 52 feet above. Look closely and you will see the attention to detail everywhere - even in the intricate floral patterns of the oxidized copper ceiling accents.

A Garden of Five Seasons
The Conservatory was opened in October of 1998 and continues to feature five different and exciting themes each year. During our visit they were near the end of their Chinese New Year theme. The centerpiece of the show was a Chinese Dragon (right) surrounded by bamboos, orchids and other plants and flowers reminiscent of Asia. In just a couple of weeks the theme will change again and the Conservatory will be filled with thousands upon thousands of tulips and other spring-like flowers. The dragon will be replaced with a gazebo.

This Place is Big
The total planting area in the Conservatory is 7,300 square feet. In an amazing whirlwind of activity the staff of gardeners and horticulturists can change-out the entire theme in a mere 72 hours. This includes over 5,000 flowers, 500 shrubs and 31 trees (the largest of which weighs over six tons). Obviously the care and feeding of these plants is a major undertaking. While most of the flowers are hand-watered the trees and back plants are part of an elaborate drip irrigation system. The arid environment is also a consideration. An indoor gardener's worst nightmare, these plants must survive the dry environment caused by the desert and the casino air conditioning. Misting is a big priority and is done on a small scale with common hand misters and on a much grander scale by an equipped staffer on a small crane (photo at left).

Behind The Scenes
Upon very close inspection, and with the help of staff gardener Lysenda Kirkberg (pictured with Shelly next page), we learned that this is basically a container garden on steroids. Every plant, big and small, is actually planted in a specialized container. Most are in small plastic bins that lock together for a tight fit. They average in size 20"x40" and are 40" deep (pictured below). They are also fitted with casters for ease of moving when necessary.

More behind the scenes >>>