flowering of Epcot, The

Southern Living, Apr 1998 by Millburg, Steve

Surrounded by 30 million gorgeous blooms, you say to yourself, "Yeah, my garden can look like this."

Well, probably not. But you can be forgiven your ambition. You're at the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival, which runs April 17 through May 31 at Walt Disney World near Orlando. And you're offered so many different seminars, workshops, and guided tours-plus informal chances to chat with horticulturists-that you figure you'll learn every possible secret to great gardening.

Of course, you can also just amble around, enjoy the glorious sweeps of color and the whimsical topiaries, and not give a thought to how they ended up there.

The festival celebrates its fifth anniversary this year. And Southern Living celebrates its second year as a cosponsor along with Sta-Green.. We put together the festival guide that visitors receive as they enter Epcot. It includes gardening tips, a map, and schedules of events and speakers. One of those speakers is Southern Living Editor John Alex Floyd, Jr., who will show some of his favorite spring perennials April 17 and 18.

Floral displays appear in Future World and encircle the countries around World Showcase Lagoon. Sometimes they're related to the country represented by the nearby pavilion. For example you'll find Pooh's Garden Adventure at the United Kingdom, home country of that lovable bear Winnie-thePooh. And guess where to look for the Japanese Bonsai Garden and the Mexico Orchid Garden?

But Disney loves surprises. So you're liable to encounter Disney characters in topiary form almost anywhere, including Beauty and the Beast, the Hunchback of Notre Dame, and the newest Disney animated hero, Hercules. Be sure to look for the monumental dinosaur topiaries and Big Bugs sculptures in East Future World (not that you could miss them).

The festival's educational component grows stronger every year. Many of the workshops and other presentations take place at the Festival Center. It lies along the Rose Walk connecting West Future World with World Showcase. Others are scattered around the grounds. Topics include how to enlist "good bugs" to battle the "bad bugs," and how to create topiaries and hanging baskets. There's no extra charge for anything except the guided tours. At the Festival Center you can browse the Garden Marketplace. Many interactive activities throughout the festival are designed specifically for children.

Don't be shy about chatting with the workers you'll see tending the flowerbeds. They love to share what they know. Just don't get carried away with plans for your own garden. Remember, Disney employs hundreds of horticulturists. There's only one of you.

Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival: Walt Disney World, P.O. Box 10040, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830-0040; (407) 824-4321. Dates: April 17-May 31. Guided tours: Epcot Garden Discoveries, covering the public displays and Disney's Botanical Explorations-Tropical Travels Tour. Tours start at $45; call (407) 939-8687. Epcot hours: usually 9 a.m-9 p.m. daily; times may vary. Epcot admission: $39.75 adults, $32 ages 3-9. Parking: $5 per car.