Bellagio’s Conservatory & Botanical Gardens debuts its delightfully eccentric summer display, “Glam Menagerie: A Surrealist Summer,” on view through September 6. Created by designer Ed Libby and Bellagio’s Horticulture team, the illusory experience transforms the Conservatory into a European garden party like no other, where baroque elegance meets whimsical fantasy, and luxury collides with imagination.
Designed to bring surreal art to life, the exhibit blends dreamlike creativity with opulence, sweeping visitors into a world where the extraordinary reigns supreme. Towering topiaries, couture animals and multi-sensory surprises dazzle and disorient, while intricate trompe-l’oeil illusions challenge perception at every turn. Throughout the display, surrealism takes shape in fanciful animal figures adorned in French Renaissance-inspired costuming, adding a whimsical flair to the escape from reality.
“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.”
West Bed
The West Bed showcases a life-sized chessboard with moss-covered figures poised for a fantastical duel. On the left, a soaring archway crowned with the Bellagio “B” welcomes guests into a fairytale garden, where an elegant pink cockatoo swings gracefully beneath. Inspired by Fragonard’s iconic painting “The Swing,” the cockatoo brings a touch of 18th-century romance to the scene. To the right, a towering chess piece houses The Garden Table, where guests can indulge in a lavish Sadelle’s brunch or an elegant dinner from MICHAEL MINA Bellagio. Overheard, grand chandeliers illuminate pink botanicals and oversized topiaries that fill the bed below.
North Bed
In the North Bed, two topiary giraffe sisters are joined by Tigress Giovanna, gracefully perched on a swing and dressed in a striking black-and-white haute couture ensemble inspired by the high fashions of the French Renaissance. Nearby, two cherub fountains add a sense of gentle tranquility, while surrounding lavender, pink, blue and white flowers evoke the elegance of classic European gardens. LED screens filled with illusionary art brighten the bed from behind as a harmonious soundtrack and a delicate jasmine scent fill the air. Guests can bring home a piece of the Conservatory with a bespoke candle available for purchase at the Giardini Store.
East Bed
A captivating gazebo stands at the heart of the East Bed, where pedestal columns support a wrought iron dome adorned with pink and white blossoms. A flock of elegant flamingos wade in shimmering waters surrounding the structure, illuminated by antique-style lanterns embossed with the Bellagio “B” hanging high above. Throughout the bed, lush topiaries and boxwood creations add allure within a landscape.
South Bed
In the South Bed, zebras Sir Pierre and Lady Colette lounge amidst sculpted greenery. A pirouetting water feature pays tribute to the iconic Fountains of Bellagio, set beneath baroque chandeliers shimmering overhead. Behind the bed, carefully detailed doors invite admiration, framed by an array of pastel botanicals and topiaries of geometric shapes.
The Garden Table
Visitors are invited to embark on a one-of-a-kind culinary journey at The Garden Table, hosted within an opulent chess piece at the heart of the Bellagio Conservatory. Guests can experience an exclusive dining experience within the summer wonderland with brunch service from Sadelle’s at $125 per person and dinner from MICHAEL MINA Bellagio at $195 per person.
Reservations are required. To book and find more information, call 702.693.7075 or go online.
Sustainability at the Conservatory
Water used in Bellagio’s Conservatory and Botanical Gardens comes from on-site underground wells that use rain and recycled water from the resort, avoiding the use of municipal potable water. The water in the Conservatory is also recycled throughout the exhibit and reused at the resort. Bellagio’s water conservation efforts are part of MGM Resorts International’s overall sustainability commitment.
At the conclusion of each display, plants and botanical material without remaining viable life are separated for collection by a local composting facility. The organic waste is made into compost products to help improve the environment. This method of recycling keeps thousands of pounds of waste out of local landfills and turns it into something that improves the region’s soil, air and water quality.
“Glam Menagerie: A Surrealist Summer” 2025 Summer Display by the Numbers
- 125,000: Pounds of ivy weaved throughout the display
- 22,000: Potted plants, shrubs and trees
- 5,000: Square feet of boxwood sculpted into topiaries
- 120 feet: Total amount of live hedges throughout the display
- 80: Visionary artists, horticulturists and engineers collaborating to bring the summer display to life
- 20 feet: Height of the king chess piece in the West Bed
- 17: Hanging lanterns illuminating the display
- 4: Playful flamingos in the East Bed
- 2: Giraffes draped in moss standing at 22 feet tall
- 1: Grand marble chess board in the West Bed
Bellagio’s Conservatory & Botanical Gardens is complimentary and open to the public 24 hours a day, seven days a week. To learn more, please visit Bellagio’s website.
