EPCOT Center at Walt Disney World
International Flower and Garden Festival

Friday was a very full day at EPCOT and the International Flower and Garden Festival. Master Gardeners were treated to two hours in the World Showcase Plaza area of the park before it was open to the public. The Disney Horticulture staff was on hand to answer questions and explain the techniques and philosophies behind the exquisite landscapes, some of which were permanent and some on display only for the six week Festival period.

Did you know, it takes 30 minutes for 5 Disney staffers to replant a single flower bed? Experts in Horticultural Specialties, Disney uses 5,000 hanging baskets and 3 million annuals each year. Woody topiaries take 7 to 10 years to mature, so they've perfected the use of sphagnum topiaries -- metal frames, covered with moss-stuffed mesh, planted with fast growing ground cover-type plants. Usually, drip irrigation is included in the interior of these topiaries, but only constant vigilance keeps narrow areas like hands and noses from drying out. It takes the hours that would be worked by one person annually to hand water the vast variety of containers used throughout the park.

Armed with our own Garden Discoveries manuals, we were able to explore the landscapes unique to each country represented. The garden railway in Germany; the topiary swans and magnificent embroidered parterre of France; Japan's stunning floral wall depicting Mt. Fuji; Italy's 500 containers planted in pastel flowers; Canada's lush recreation of the Butchart Gardens located in British Columbia, the wildflower collection in Norway, and all the hanging baskets, containers, topiaries, columns of color and floaters are designed to reinforce the theme and architecture, add interest and educate the guests.