 |
Photo by Erik Stein |
When it's time for Mother Nature to
renew Earth, she summons spring.
Out of the four seasons, spring is
Earth's most colorful artwork. And
now that the time of year is in full
swing, the Bellagio Conservatory
and Botanical Gardens celebrates
with a brand new fl oral exhibit, open
to the public through May 9.
A rare treat for visitors is the world's
largest displayed collection of sculpted
Sevillano olive trees, each more than
100 years old. American artist Susan P.
Cochran created a colony of large-scale
bronze ants that are placed throughout the
exhibit. The ants can be seen gathering
food, carrying their eggs, climbing into an
ant hole and coming out of patches of the
garden. Another remarkable feature is the
15-foot flowerpot tipped on its side,
overflowing with colorful blooms and a
28-foot spade dug into the dirt nearby.
Other magnificent pieces are giant purple
and green mushrooms, colorful giant
butterflies soaring through the air, giant
bumblebees made of dried chrysanthemums
and sunflowers, two sky-high yellow
jonquils and oversize watering cans. In
the middle of the conservatory are rows
and rows of baskets filled with the most
beautiful and vibrant colored fl owers that
include hyacinths, tulips and daffodils, a
design inspired by French gardens.
So whether you're an avid botany fan or
simply want to enjoy nature's springtime
bounty, there's no better place on the Strip
to visit than the Bellagio.
Free, open 24 hours
daily. 702.693.7111
|