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.