I might be bodily back in New Jersey, but my brain is still running on Las Vegas time. I feel three hours behind and can’t seem to get out of my own way let alone blog. So, I’ll keep us in Las Vegas for yet another day and give you a tour of the Botanical Gardens and Conservatory at the Bellagio. Hopefully my brain will catch up with my body soon.

Last time I was there in April, the Bellagio was decked with tulips and other spring bulbs. Now it’s showing off for Autumn. A large, working waterwheel took up the back half of the conservatory. The water from the wheel filled a pond where fountains of water cascaded over trees.

Next to the pond flowed a “river” of colorful apples.

Many colorful carved pumpkins were scattered throughout.

Crystalline Autumn leaves hung suspended from the Conservatory’s dome.

Everyone was captivated by the arches of water over the walkway. I was more impressed with the arches covered in bittersweet and persimmon vines. Enchanting!

The centerpiece was most likely this endearing Ent (from Middle Earth). He had gathered a harvest of various types of squash around his feet.

A dining table and chairs fit for a king (or an Ent) was fashioned out of thousands of pieces of cushion moss, hen-and-chicks, and lots of moisture pumped in every few minutes via a drenching steam bath. I would need a ladder just to climb into one of these huge chairs.

It was a beautiful and relaxing space to be in if you could just blip out all the other tourists. I loved this arrangement in the Bellagio’s foyer, only to be totally miffed at the tourist who reached out to touch it at the exact moment I took this photo. Sigh.

Of the Flamingo’s neon on top of the Bellagio:

Of the framework of the leg of the Eiffel Tower in the Paris Casino:

Of the Flamingo reflecting pinkly into itself.

Today’s journey took me from Rome (The Forum Shops) to Paris. It only took me fifteen minutes to walk between the two cities. Where else in the world besides Vegas would this be possible? Here are some photos taken out and about.

Our hotel’s namesake, The Flamingo, is everywhere you look.

Some are in the gift shop:

Some are real:

Others are just pretenders:

Others are harder to spot. Do you see him?

I’m sure I can find more ...