“There is both whimsy and wisdom for those willing to look beneath the surface of the messaging of this amazing exhibit”
Each season, the Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens are transformed into a whimsical wonderland by the creative hard working botanical staff for people of all ages. Like everyone else who was there, Cecile and I were in complete awe of the intricate, distinctive, and stunning floral display. Ironically, even though it can be at tad congested at times—after all, it is Las Vegas we are talking about—it offers a rare oasis of tranquility and respite from the busyness of the strip and casinos.
In the South Bed, the Bellagio has brought back the Enchanted talking tree that greets guests as they walk in. Look a little closer and it appears that its' eyes are following you. In the North Bed, guests discover two stunning tigers that stand 10 feet tall with foxes nearby. It is a subliminal reference to the famous Chinese idiom, “A fox exploits a tiger’s might,” which is a tale of a fox about to be devoured by a tiger. The sly fox cons the tiger to follow him around to show the tiger what a big shot he is, and in so doing everyone runs away. Impressed, the tiger lets the fox live, never realizing people were fleeing from him, not the fox who had assumed the tiger’s majesty. Duh!
However, the 2018 seasonal display, entitled “Falling Asleep,” featuring a bigger than life sleeping goddess in the West Bed, made of natural materials like hydrangeas and oak leaves, left us feeling awakened and transported into another realm as one would experience by watching a Harry Potter film.
The exhibit as a whole was inspired by Demeter, the “Goddess of the Harvest" who was the most generous of the great Olympian goddesses in Greek Mythology. She was much beloved by her service to everyday people for teaching them how to grow, preserve and prepare the grain. She was seen as the nurturer of humankind. She empathized with the universal human experience of suffering and grief—as she experienced herself. It is a message to all of us to stand firm for what is good, decent and right, especially when we encounter adversity, when powerful and/or misguided forces conspire against us. Moreover, she also teaches us that even during times of great sorrow, we can experience great joy.
Postscript: the Harvest display runs through Nov. 24, 2018 and the popular holiday extravaganza runs from December 1 through January 6, 2019
Source: about the tiger adapted from the Category Archives: Bellagio Conservatory
