Only Disney Can Take Dirt-Grass-Moss-Bugs-Manure And Create Beauty And Grace
You don't know a tropical oasis until you’ve experienced Walt Disney World's International Flower and Garden Festival. And you thought you had a "green" thumb?
I never thought I would be the kind of guy who could look forward to go and look at plants and flowers. All that changed the first time I experienced plants and flowers done by Disney. You know it is springtime with Epcot's annual International Flower & Garden Festival. While the grounds at Epcot are always pristine and meticulously manicured, the Flower and Garden Festival take them to the next level.
This year the 2009 Theme is "Celebrate Springtime" with 70 amazing topiaries featuring your favorite Disney Characters and especially Princesses. The main entrance will have topiaries of Cinderella with her Prince Charming, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Sleeping Beauty and Prince Phillip and Belle with the Beast. The fountain of course will feature the fiery redhead of the sea Ariel from The Little Mermaid.
Throughout Epcot over 70 topiaries will be on display. These topiaries take months of meticulous, watering, grooming, primping and moss to make them show ready for their big day. The Flower Power Concert series will return as well as special kid's activities and gardening workshops.
Perennial Flower and Garden favorites such as the Flower Power Concert series, Minnie's Butterfly Garden, I dig Bugs, Art in the Garden, Growing Future Gardeners, Great American Gardeners and Disney Gardening at Home will be returning. For the kids, There's Let's Get Moving featuring Evos and Weevos play systems, and the Pirate Adventure Zone located in the World Showcase.
Over at the France Pavilion, there will again be a "lift" and "sniff" Fragrance Garden focusing on some of the flowers used in making the Guerlain line of perfumes.
Throughout the event, Disney horticulturists will conduct seminars, sharing tips and secrets for you to try at home. Also, at this event are many special guests and vendors. One is Larry Dotson who is an Internationally renowned artist. Larry is one of only two "resident artist" who have a special license agreement exclusively with The Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando Florida. Larry's work is scene throughout the Walt Disney World Resort. However, for art collectors these pieces are only available to the public when the resident artist is personally on property at one of his signings.
So, if you are like myself, and The Art of Disney is a passion of yours, do not miss out on meeting these very exclusive artists, Larry Dotson and David Doss. Disney knows how to keep things exclusive and these events are some of the rare opportunities to meet some of the talented individuals who create the Disney Magic.
The 2009 International Flower & Garden Festival will conclude Easter weekend. Other than the weeks preceding and following this holiday, this event takes place during one of the less busy times of the year.
2009 Flower Power Concert Series
Featuring music from the 60's and 70's (Show Location America Gardens Theatre):
Show times 5:45pm, 7:00pm & 8:15pm.
In the past, these concerts were held daily for the Flower and Garden Festival. As you can see below, they will only be taking place on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday for 2009.
• 3/20 - 3/22: Davy Jones
• 3/25 - 3/29: Paul Revere and the Raiders
• 4/03 - 4/05: The Turtles featuring Flo & Eddie
• 4/10 - 4/12: Herman's Hermits starring Peter Noone
• 4/17 - 4/19: The Ventures
• 4/24 - 4/26: Harold Melvin's Blue Notes (NEW)
• 5/01 - 5/03: Chubby Checker & The Wildcats
• 5/08 - 5/10: Ricky Nelson Remembered featuring The Nelsons
• 5/15 - 5/17: Jose Feliciano
• 5/22 - 5/24: The 5th Dimension
• 5/29 - 5/31: Tony Orlando
Note: The concert schedule is subject to change without notice
2009 Epcot Flower and Garden Themed Events:
• March 18, 2009:
"Opening Ceremony" - The official kick-off to the 16th Annual Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival
• March 27 - 29, 2009:
"Art in the Garden Weekend" - "Plein Air" artists display their craft throughout Epcot. In Future World "Kid's Paint Out" is featured.
• April 24 - 26, 2009:
"Environmentality" - You guessed it - it's all about helping to keep our planet green, including ways to reduce waste at home and in our community. Green Gardens are located adjacent to the Morocco Pavilion.
o I Dig Bugs: If you find these tiny garden helpers intriguing, this is the perfect opportunity to see the important role that insects play in horticulture. One of the activities is a "good bug" release.
• May 8 - 10, 2009:
"Florida Farmers Market" - Browse among the displays at this mega Florida Farmers Market
• May 29 - 31, 2009:
"Festival Farewell Weekend" - The final opportunity to enjoy the Flower and Garden Festival
2009 Flower & Garden Festival Highlights
• Cinderellabration - Cinderella's coronation day. Celebrate with the royal court in topiaries.
• Let's Get Moving - Imagination Walkway - Find Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Donald and Goofy in topiaries.
• Mower Mania! - Future World East - Hosted by Toro, test your mowing skills by navigating a remote controlled mower. An exhibit of mowers from push to power is on display
• Pixie Hollow Fairy Garden- Test Track Walkway- Play structures designed for kids 2-5.
• Minnie's Magnificent Butterfly Garden - Test Track Walkway - Presented by Disneynature - This area features colorful foliage with hundreds of free flying butterflies
• Simba's Birthday Celebration - World Showcase Plaza
• Sand Sculpture Art - Test Track Walkway
• Fragrance Garden - France Pavilion - Hosted by Guerlain, Inc - This beautiful garden captures the fragrances of Guerlain. Complimentary 20 minute tours are scheduled at 2:00, 4:00 and 6:00pm. (Sign up at the Guerlain Shop located in the La Signature shop
• Celebrate the Art and Music of Fantasia - Behind Spaceship Earth - Find select characters from Fantasia.
• Lush Xeriscapes - Imagination Walkway - Learn How to create fantastic vistas at home and minimize your use of water at the same time.
• Be Our Guest - Future World, Fountain Stage plaza - characters from Beauty and the Beast.
• Floral Floating Islands - East and West Lake, concourse to World Showcase
• Garden Café - World Showcase Promenade, Canada Pavilion side
Specialty beverages
• Kids' Picks - Imagination Walkway - featuring fresh, healthy snacks and beverages from Florida!
2009 World Showcase Pavilion Exhibits
• Morocco Pavilion - Green Garden and Aladdin's Bazaar
• Japan Pavilion - Bonsai Collection - The ancient art of Bonsai is featured in the Japan garden setting
• Italy Pavilion - Amore nel Giardino (Love in the Garden) - Learn the secrets of creating cascading floral containers
• Germany Pavilion - Pirates Adventure - You can create your own adventure. Play structures designed for ages 6 and older.
• China Pavilion - Bromeliad Dragon - topiary dragon
• Norway Pavilion - Norway Troll Trek - Find the hidden rock and forest trolls in the gardens of Norway
• Canada Pavilion - Water Works - Discover how to use our water resources wisely.
• United Kingdom - English Tea Garden -
Sign-up for a twenty-minute guided tour at the Tea Caddy hosted by Twinings.
Monday - Thursday: 3:30 & 6:30 pm
Friday - Sunday: 2:30, 3:30, 5:00 & 6:30 pm
Great American Gardeners 2009
These sessions are hosted inside the Wonders of Life Pavilion.
• March 20-22 Jon Carloftis, landscape designer
• March 20-29 Shirley Bovshow Co host Garden Police, DIY Network
• April 3-5 Susan Belsinger, herbalist, food writer and photographer
• April 10-12 Felder Rushing, NPR host, horticulturalist
• April 17-19 Joe Lamp'l aka joe gardener. National TV host, gardening expert
• April 24-26 Jeff Lowenfels, Radio show host and author.
• May 1-3 Joe Washington, TV host
• May 8-10 Raymond Western, Guerlain's Director of Education, Tom MacCubbin, flower garden writer, extension agent.
• May 15-17 Melinda Myers, garden expert and TV host
• May 22-24 Robert Bowden, Director of Harry P. Leu Gardens Orlando FL.
• May 29-31 Rita Randolph, speaker, plant collector.
Disney Gardening at Home 2009
Disney garden pros are here to share their secrets and insights. Each seminar includes hands-on activities that you can bring home.
This twice daily workshop takes place at 11:00am and 2:00pm Wednesdays through Sunday. Note that seating is limited and is first come - first served
• March 20-22 High Impact Garden Accents, Stephen Skalak and Season Steib
• March 27-29 Exotic and Tantalizing Tropicals, Barbara Albright and Rob Williams
• April 3-5 Pruning a Cut Above the Rest, Ken Howell and Ed Buhler
• April 10-12 Horticulture- Disney's Heritage, Michele Czerkies and Lisa Bernardini
• April 17-19 Gardening, It's Oh So Trendy, Tracy Fischer and Matthew Pollard
• April 24-26 Kids Gardening- It's More Than Mud Pies, Doug McKenney and Brenda Sandberg
• May 1-3 Contain Yourself, Consider your Style, Tray Anderson and Joseph Rainey
• May 8-10 Earth Friendly Rain Gardening, Scott Franklin and Cindy Stump
• May 15-17 Tips from the Tool Shed, John Groh and Nelson Whittaker
• May 22-24 Gardening Two Extremes, Susan McLaughlin and Ira Wileman
• May 29-31 Start-Grow-Save-Swap, Allison Brooks and Jessie Mek Burns
Written by Walt's Dreamer: Tollie Schmidt, lost over 300 pounds.
Tollies passion, is to end Teen & youth obesity, anorexia, depression and diet. Tollie a former WDW Cast member founded Disney Exclusive Online.
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