Flower and Garden Festival Blooms Early at Epcot in 2010

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – The 17th annual Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival kicks off March 3 – earlier than ever – and continues for 75 days through May 16, 2010, with bold strokes of seasonal color and brand-new topiary whimsy. Last year’s festival began March 18; now Walt Disney World guests get a head start on the gardening season as they explore exhibits and activities geared toward discovery and outdoor fun.

Even before spring has sprung, Donald Duck and his topiary pals set up camp in full floral color to celebrate the Great Outdoors at the Epcot front entrance. The elaborate topiary with a North American theme, live waterfall and pond features Goofy in a fly-fishing misadventure, Daisy Duck roasting marshmallows over a campfire and Pluto in his “pup tent.” It’s a must-stop photo op for guests as soon as they pass through the park turnstiles.

“The advantage of starting earlier is that we’ll be able to feature more brilliant color than ever, with richly hued petunias, violas, snapdragons and other hardy flowers,” says festival horticulture manager Eric Darden. “By starting earlier and going through mid-May, it allows more guests than ever to experience the festival and to plan ahead for their spring and summer gardening.”

New This Year!

Up to 700 butterflies flutter into an expanded and relocated, futuristic-themed Bambi’s Butterfly House – double the size of previous years’ Minnie’s Magnificent Butterfly Garden. The new butterfly abode in Future World West, at 3,500 square feet, allows hundreds of the winged beauties to flit among the lush foliage of a larger screened enclosure, where guests can wander and watch as multiple butterfly species light on flowers filled with nectar and as caterpillars emerge from their chrysalis in a special discovery exhibit. Bambi joins butterfly floral topiaries to welcome guests to the enclosure.

Special gardens, events and children’s play areas throughout the park offer more reasons to visit the 17th annual festival:

· New Victory Garden – Disney’s “fab five” topiary pals – Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Pluto and Goofy – gather at American Adventure to tend tomatoes, beans, peppers, herbs and other edibles in their first Victory Garden as a salute to the history of World War II gardens, the new White House vegetable garden and the many community gardens being planted across the country.

· Newly Expanded Pixie Hollow Fairy Garden – Colorful topiaries of Tinker Bell and friends from Walt Disney Pictures’ latest DVD release “Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure” will sprinkle pixie dust over this playful, expanded garden for kids. New characters on display with returning fairy favorites are fast-flying, sharp-tongued Vidia and charming Terence, dispenser of pixie dust. Tinker Bell’s Nook has hands-on activities. In a synergistic turn, the “Lost Treasure” DVD includes a bonus feature on “The Making of the Fairy Garden,” featuring Disney cast members who designed and built Pixie Hollow, along with the movie’s producer and director, who helped plan the garden.

· First-Ever American Gothic Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse – Topiary experts pull out all the stops to create an American Gothic Mickey and Minnie topiary scene based on the 1930 Grant Wood painting. At World Showcase Plaza.

· Pirates Adventure Zone – Peter Pan, Captain Hook and Croc topiaries will lure young swashbucklers to this interactive space designed for exploration and adventure. Next to the Germany pavilion.

Throughout the festival, more than 70 topiaries plus sweeping floral beds and exhibits will decorate the park landscape and showcase the extraordinary craftsmanship of Disney gardeners. A Fragrance Garden at the France pavilion will tell the “love story” of plants and perfume, and the art of bonsai will “wow” guests at the Japan showcase.

Festival highlights also include:

·Flower Power concerts – Popular bands will rock the open-air America Gardens Theatre every Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 5:15, 6:30 and 7:45 p.m. Jose Feliciano is scheduled to kick off the concert series March 5-7. On subsequent weekends, the lineup is slated to feature pop favorites like Davy Jones, Chubby Checker & The Wildcats, Tony Orlando, former Boston lead singer Fran Cosmo, and other top acts.

· Disney Gardening at Home presentations – Disney horticulturists will share gardening tips and lead guests in a hands-on, take-home activity.

· The Great American Gardeners series – Gardening celebrities and authors from across the country will reveal their gardening secrets. Opening weekend, Robert Bowden, author and director of lush Harry P. Leu Gardens in Orlando, kicks off the series.

· The Garden Town Festival Center – Guests can shop for festival merchandise, attend speaker presentations and demonstrations and ask gardening questions of the experts.

· Special Festival Celebrations – An Art in the Garden celebration of plein air artists is scheduled March 26-28; a Florida Farmer’s Market celebration is April 23-25, and the popular I Dig Bugs event is set for April 30-May 2.

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LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Epcot becomes a living jukebox featuring hit songs of the 1960s through the 1990s each Friday through Sunday of the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival at Walt Disney World Resort.

That’s when America Gardens Theatre presents Flower Power concerts – a series showcasing artists and groups involved in recordings that climbed the Billboard charts in years gone by. The 11 weekends of the 2010 Flower & Garden Festival will feature acts that produced 126 Top 40 hits – including 16 releases that topped the charts.
Here’s the lineup (Entertainment is subject to change without notice):

March 5-7 – Jose Feliciano
March 12-14 – Paul Revere & The Raiders
March 19-21 – David Cassidy
March 26-28 – Starship featuring Mickey Thomas
April 2-4 – Tony Orlando
April 9-11 – Herman’s Hermits Starring Peter Noone
April 16-18 – Ricky Nelson Remembered featuring the Nelsons
April 23-25 – Atlanta Rhythm Section
April 30-May 2 –Fran Cosmo (Former lead singer of Boston)
May 7-9 –Davy Jones
May 14 – 16 – Chubby Checker & The Wildcats

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While Epcot’s Flower & Garden Festival wont begin until March 3rd, the park has already started to put up the various new Disney character topiary displays up all around the park.

Check out these photos by Denise at Mousesteps.

CLICK HERE

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CSR Regular Join date: 2009-11-11 Posts: 97

I didn't even know about this until someone said to watch Jose Feliciano in concert when we are there. I just assumed they have a bunch of new flowers around and not much else. Now, I have to replan my entire Epcot visits

.

After looking at pictures, I think my finger will begin to hurt to get a bunch of pictures at Epcot. I guess I will be spending at least 2 days there if not 3 now.

1. Flower and Garden Festival
2. Kim Possible
3. world Showcase/Kidcot

BigRedDad wrote:

I didn't even know about this until someone said to watch Jose Feliciano in concert when we are there. I just assumed they have a bunch of new flowers around and not much else. Now, I have to replan my entire Epcot visits

.

After looking at pictures, I think my finger will begin to hurt to get a bunch of pictures at Epcot. I guess I will be spending at least 2 days there if not 3 now.

1. Flower and Garden Festival
2. Kim Possible
3. world Showcase/Kidcot

We've been there a few times during the show. Its unbelievable with all the flowers. You're going to love it!

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2010 Flower & Garden Festival Highlights

* New this year! Community Garden - Come see Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Donald and Goofy topiaries gardening in the special community garden. This garden represents the 2010 celebration "Give a Day, Get a Disney Day."
* New this year! American Gothic Mickey and Minnie
* New this year! Herbs and Vegetables Home Grown - Canada Pavilion - presented by Rainbird Corporation. Learn how to conserve water wisely.
* Green Garden – Learn how to create an environmentally friendly garden that doesn't use much water. Use native plants and recycle.
* Pixie Hollow Fairy Garden - Test Track Walkway- Topiaries of the fairies and play structures designed for kids 2-5.
* The Princess and the Frog Wedding Bayou – Test Track Walkway
* Minnie's Magnificent Butterfly Garden - Test Track Walkway - Presented by Disneynature - This area features colorful foliage with hundreds of free-flying butterflies.
* Pirates Adventure Zone – Peter Pan, Captain Hook and Croc topiaries will lure young swashbucklers to this interactive space designed for exploration and adventure.
* Cinderellabration - Cinderella's coronation day. Celebrate with the royal court in topiaries.
* The Garden Town Festival Center - Shop for festival merchandise, watch demonstrations, attend speaker presentations and speak to gardening experts.
* Planting Pointers - Gardening experts from the University of Florida present tips for everyone to become a great gardener. Offered every Friday, Saturday & Sunday 1:00 pm & 4:00 pm.
* The Making of the Flower & Garden Festival - Learn the secrets of how Disney's Horticulture Team puts together the Festival year after year. Offered every Friday, Saturday & Sunday 10:00 am – 5:00 pm.
* Ask An Expert - "Master Gardeners" from the University of Florida will be available to answer your gardening questions. Offered every Friday, Saturday & Sunday 10:00 am - 5:00 pm.
* Let's Get Moving - Imagination Walkway - Find Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Donald and Goofy in topiaries.
* 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
* Lush Xeriscapes - Imagination Walkway - Learn How to create fantastic vistas at home and minimize your use of water at the same time.
* Floral Floating Islands - East and West Lake, concourse to World Showcase
* Floral Mosaics - hosted by Syngenta Flowers

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Great American Gardeners 2010

Every Friday, Saturday & Sunday 12:00 pm & 3:00 pm

These sessions are hosted inside the Wonders of Life Pavilion.

* March 5-7 Robert Bowden, Director of Harry P. Leu Gardens Orlando FL
* March 12-14 Jeff Gillman
* March 19-21 Lynn Coulter
* March 26-28 Maureen Gilmer
* April 2-4 Douglas Tallamy
* April 9-11 Debra Prinzing
* April 16-18 Susan Belsinger, herbalist, food writer and photographer
* April 30-May 2 Lee Reich
* May 7-9 Matt Henderson
* May 14-16 Ahmed Hassan

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Last edited by Buzz2001 on Fri Feb 26, 2010 7:09 am; edited 1 time in total

Disney Gardening at Home 2010

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 11:00 am and 2:00 pm Friday through Sunday. Note that seating is limited and is first come - first served

* March 5-7 Easy to do Water Features
* March 12-14 Fun Family Gardening Projects
* March 19-21 What's Old is New
* March 26-28 Butterfly House How To-Creating a Pollinator Garden
* April 2-4 Disney's Horticulture Past Festival Favorites
* April 9-11 Irrigation How To
* April 16-18 Creating Backyard Garden Retreats
* April 23-25 Disney's Top Picks for Mixed Containers
* April 30-May 2 Tough Plants for Extreme Gardeners
* May 7-9 Growing it Yourself
* May 14-16 Stars of the Show- Must Have Plants with Unique Characteristics

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2010 Epcot Flower and Garden Themed Events

* March 26-28, 2010 - Art in the Garden Celebration. See some unique works of art.

* April 23-25, 2010 - Fresh from Florida. Visit the Florida Farmer's Market in Garden Town.
* April 20, May 1&2, 2010 - 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.

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2010 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 Wise Herbs and Vegetables
* 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

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Finishing touches are being put in place for this years’ International Flower & Garden Festival. Here is a behind-the-scenes look at a truly massive effort to put the scene just beyond the turnstiles. Simply amazing! And they beat the rain.

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CSR Regular Join date: 2009-11-11 Posts: 97

I'll put a link to my Flickr site when I get back in a week and a half. The photos will not be edited, but people will be able to see the splendor. I just hope I can live up to the capabilities of my new camera.

I can't wait to see the pics! If you see anything new or construction at CSR, get a photo for all of us CSR lovers!!

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Denise has some great photos. The weather looks beautiful! Man I wish I was going!!

MOUSESTEPS

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CSR Regular Join date: 2009-11-11 Posts: 97

I will be taking lots of pics. Before I used to shoot 10 shots of everything hoping one comes out. Now, I know how to use the camera a little better, I have a tripod for night shots, and I have a more conscious eye for composing shots now.

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Flower and Garden Festival Blooms Early at Epcot in 2010

Flower and Garden Festival Blooms Early at Epcot in 2010

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