Incorporating 125,000 pounds of ivy, 5,000 square feet of sculpted boxwood topiaries and 22,000 potted plants, shrubs and trees, the new Glam Menagerie: A Surrealist Summer has opened at Bellagio’s Conservatory & Botanical Gardens in Las Vegas and will be on display through Sept. 6.
The Bellagio Horticulture team collaborated with designer Ed Libby to craft a lavish, immersive environment filled with elaborate topiaries, trompe-l’oeil details and fantastical figures dressed in fashions inspired by the French Renaissance. The installation blends horticulture and design to create an experience that reads like a living work of art.
© MGM Resorts International
“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.”
Each conservatory bed offers its own scene. In the West Bed, life-sized moss figures face off in an imagined duel beneath glowing chandeliers and an array of rose-hued botanicals. The Garden Table invites visitors to dine amid enormous greenery-formed chess pieces, with brunch from Sadelle’s and dinner available from MICHAEL MINA Bellagio.
© MGM Resorts International
The North Bed features a pair of topiary giraffes, cherub fountains and the scent of jasmine throughout the space. In the South Bed, baroque chandeliers hang over reclining zebra figures and imaginative boxwood sculptures. The East Bed centers on a graceful gazebo topped by a wrought-iron dome and supported by pedestal columns, surrounded by soft pink and white blooms while a flock of flamingos paddles nearby.
Beyond its visual spectacle, the installation emphasizes sustainability. Water used in the conservatory and gardens is supplied largely from underground wells that capture rain and recycled sources, reducing reliance on municipal supplies. Spent blooms and plant material are collected for composting instead of being sent to landfill, returning nutrients to the soil and supporting healthier local ecosystems.
Glam Menagerie: A Surrealist Summer showcases the intersection of art, horticulture and design, inviting visitors to wander through seasonally themed vignettes that evoke wonder while reflecting thoughtful environmental practices.