ONLY ON FOX5: Behind the scenes at Bellagio Conservatory as team creates ‘Higher Love’

LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) - The Bellagio Conservatory is a lush botanical oasis in the heart of the desert.

Comprised of more than 65-thousand living plants – the 14-thousand square foot garden would be impressive if it remained static 365 days a year – but it doesn’t. Five times a year, the conservatory gets a whole new look – and recently the Bellagio granted FOX5 exclusive behind-the-scenes access to the change-out -- from tear-down to rebuild to reopening – to see how they get it done.

Step inside for a previously unseen perspective of “Higher Love.”

Reinventing an iconic space – particularly one on the Las Vegas strip – is no small task.

“It is the most enormous, absolutely so much fun chore that you could ever imagine,” shares Bellagio Conservatory Project Manager Lea Jonic.

Artistic director and designer Ed Libby tells FOX5 it takes months of planning to put on the type of breath-taking displays the conservatory’s known for.

“I pitch at the beginning of the year what journey we’re going to take the guests on during that year in the Conservatory. (2:38) And then, when the idea of that journey is approved, we start doing illustrations of what that journey looks and feels like.”

PART 1 & 2 - Inside the Bellagio Conservatory

It’s up to Jonic to bring Libby’s vision to life.

“We kind of dial it in more, and he presents renderings and different ideas of what that could look like, and we keep going back and revising that with all levels of the Bellagio, and everyone gets to take a look at it,” she tells us. “And finally it’s blessed and we say we love it and we think it should be inside the Conservatory and we go to work, and ideally that would be about a year out.”

“The hard part is, and the trickiest part is always to take those illustrations and make them reality,” says Libby. “But we have the most unbelievable builders that we work with here at Bellagio that can take those dreams and make them a reality.”

Everything from the structures to the props, all built in house.

“And we have Julio over here sculpting balloon…”

And all incorporating as many botanical elements as possible.

“As you go through you’ll see some of the balloons are made of ground shells and seeds, and blue things that look like other blue things, so it’s really using nature and translating that nature as part of our palette,” explains Libby.

PART 3 - Inside the Bellagio Conservatory

As opening day draws closer, plants begin to arrive. The living elements – all specially grown just for the conservatory – come from as far away as Hawaii and Florida.

“We work with growers around the country, and all of the things you see inside the Conservatory, there’s massive quantities of things, so not everyone’s ordering 40-thousand tulips in a certain color, so we work them and they grow specifically what we need, and it is born to live inside the Conservatory.”

Beyond the beautiful botanicals, Libby’s tossed in some high-tech touches as well.

“I started in 2016, we’re in 2024 now, you know, the world has evolved and changed a lot since then and what’s available to show guests, and what guests are expecting to see through technology or whatever, so two years ago, you know, we added these amazing screens that you’ll see in the background as you walk through.”

Day four of the transformation sees steady progress

“We are very on schedule right now…I hate saying that out loud…” she says with laughter. “‘Cause you know, as soon as I say that, that’s exactly when we veer off schedule, but no… if we can get to everything on that board, we’re a full day ahead, but don’t tell anybody out there, ‘cause then they’ll…”

Days five and six pass without a hitch.

“By the time we get to Friday afternoon, people are really waiting at the entrances to get in,” says Jonic.

And then, the moment arrives when visitors can finally take in the full scope of what’s been accomplished.

“It just puts a smile on your face, bright energy, and all the sunlight that’s hitting all the balloons, makes me feel like I want to travel,” shares one guest.

The Bellagio Conservatory is open year-round, seven days a week -- except during change-out times -- and it’s free.

For those looking for a very special setting for a very special occasion, Sadelle’s offers a special dining experience inside the Conservatory, and like the garden, the menu changes with the seasons.

Our thanks to the Bellagio’s Communications team for their assistance and the access granted, and our congratulations to the Conservatory team for creating another breathtaking exhibit.

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