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Celebrating Year of the Rat at Bellagio
By Len Butcher
One of my favorite things to do is visit Bellagio's Conservatory & Botanical Gardens during each of the seasons. The displays are spectacular and it's all free. As well as the seasons, however, the Gardens each year celebrates the Chinese New Year and this year is no exception.
The display, which opened in January, runs through March 15, and you don't want to miss it. This year is the Year of the Rat, and the unique display is guided by the ancient practice of Feng Shui - the art of using surroundings to attract harmony, balance and positive life energy.
The dramatic centerpiece of this exhibit is perched atop an oversized, flowering branch. Here, a botanical, 5-foot-tall rodent watches guests with an inquisitive eye. The auspicious rat's lush coat is made of red Alternanthera, a low-growing herb, with a touch of pink Hypoestes, a tropical plant. His long curling tail and delicate whiskers are made of metal.
Legend has it that Buddha asked all the animals to meet him on Chinese New Year. Twelve came. The rat is revered for its place as first in the Asian zodiac and is a symbol of renewal. Those born in the Year of the Rat tend to be intelligent, charming and practical.
Just steps away from Bellagio's rodent ambassador, an 18-foot-tall Chinese God of Wealth and Fortune is found amidst gleaming I-Ching coins, a traditional Chinese money symbol. Widely recognized as the strongest symbol of good fortune in China, the God of Wealth and Fortune is flanked by two Ming Dynasty-styled dings, ancestral vessels that protect against bad luck.
Nearby, you will find a zigzag bridge leading to a beautiful, wing-tipped gazebo painted a deep red lacquer with shimmering gold trim and green-tiled roofs. The color red signifies happiness while the upturned roofline wards off evil spirits and the sharp pattern of the bridge protects against negative energy and bad spirits. A majestic mountain, seen as a pillar between heaven and earth, serves as a dramatic backdrop.
The teachings of Feng Shui are also used to purposely position the flow of water into Bellagio's Conservatory, and not away, ensuring the flow of positive energy. From a tranquil Koi pond to a shimmering waterfall, water denotes the larger world we live in while carp signify good luck and everlasting good fortune.
Bellagio's Conservatory & Botanical Gardens are located just off the lobby of the resort.
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