Question of the Day - 05 May 2019

The Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Garden, which debuted with the property in 1998, is one of the more popular free attractions in Las Vegas.

It features rotating, elaborate, seasonal displays changed five times per year (including the one you saw for Chinese New Year). Each new setup involves completely different plants and trees, appropriate to the time of year and theme, plus a totally new "theatrical presentation" of the various elements.

The props for these presentations are stored in a 30,000-square-foot warehouse off-property and, together with any large plants and trees, are brought in through a double door in the back of the house.

The bigger props -- the largest ever of which, to our knowledge, was a 110-foot-tall 10-ton deceased banyan tree from Florida that appeared in several displays before it finally met its date with the wood chipper -- are broken down into smaller pieces to fit through this entrance.

The plants aren't grown by Bellagio, since many diverse species introduced during the course of the year require wildly different climatic conditions in which to thrive. Instead, they're supplied by various growers in Utah and California, the latter being the source of the giant Shasta fir tree that traditionally forms the centerpiece of the Conservatory’s winter-holiday display.

Even though the diverse flowers, plants, mosses, gourds, and trees that decorate the botanical garden aren't grown on property, the Conservatory requires a horticultural staff of more than 100 men and women who maintain the exhibit (and all the other floral displays and installations around Bellagio).

Collectively, it takes the entire team a full week, working round the clock, to complete each seasonal changeover.

The Conservatory remains open to the public at all times, but during the intense transition periods, certain aisles will be restricted to staff for safety reasons and to ensure sufficient space for the workers, plant materials, props, and requisite mechanical booms and lifts to operate.

Specialized lighting fixtures were designed for the Conservatory, allowing for every flower to be illuminated and a new lighting design for each individual display.

Although the designs change from year to year, the themes remain constant: spring features cherry blossoms, replaced by an array of colorful and fragrant flora for the summer; autumnal tones, pumpkins, and scarecrows usher in the fall exhibit. Then the changeover takes place for the lavish annual holiday display, which marks the winter season; Chinese New Year ushers in a feng shui-inspired good-luck design.