Last week, when walking around the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival, the zen garden and “Cars 2” topiaries in Japan Pavilion captured my attention. As Lightning McQueen and Mater sat surrounding the rock garden and a gardener raked the gravel into wave-like patterns, I imagined Mater yelling out, “Hey! You done good. You got all the leaves!” just like he did in “Cars 2” before eating the bad pistachio ice cream.

When he was done raking, I was able to talk to our zen gardener, Ben Taveras. Ben is a cast member with the Horticulture team and takes care of the Japan Pavillion area for the festival.

Early each morning, the gravel is raked into different patterns, he told me, based on the gardener’s state of mind — wavy and whimsical when he is happy and straight and simple if things aren’t going so great.

“I don’t think I’ve ever raked them straight,” he said smiling.

The topiaries and zen garden will be on display until May 20.

“Every topiary has a story to tell,” says Ben, “and sharing that story with guests is the best part of my day.”

Can’t get enough of the sights at Epcot? See the posts below for more:

• Celebrating Springtime at Walt Disney World Resort
• Photos For the First Day of Spring at Walt Disney World Resort
• ‘With Love’ From Epcot

Tagged: Epcot, International Flower and Garden Festival, WDW

Filed: Epcot, Special Events, Walt Disney World Resort

I can’t believe we’re already halfway through this year’s Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival. It’s been amazing so far, with everyone enjoying the 30 million blooms; the beloved Disney character topiaries; “how to” demonstrations and presentations by HGTV, DIY Network and Disney experts; unique gardens themed to the countries of World Showcase; the Flower Power Concert Series and much more.

Today, we catch up with HGTV’s Brandon Johnson, host of the hit show “My Yard Goes Disney,” hot off its second season of making Disney Parks-inspired dreams come true for families around the United States. In each episode, homeowners get a jaw-dropping backyard makeover inspired by Disney Parks that’s worthy of major family playtime. Disney Channel fans will also recognize Brandon as producer Gary Wilde from the hit show “Shake It Up.”

Like all the HGTV and DIY Superstars at this year’s festival, we found Brandon at the Festival Center, which is also being presented by HGTV. We asked Brandon to show us around the Center and put his expert eye to things for which Disney Parks Blog readers might watch out.

You can see Brandon in episodes of “My Yard Goes Disney” on HGTV and HGTV.com. The new season airs on Fridays at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT starting June 1.

And come out to see Brandon and all the other HGTV and DIY Network stars scheduled this year. The list includes (Talent/dates/subjects subject to change):

• April 20-22 – Meg Caswell, Meg’s Great Rooms – “Tips for Turning a Good Room Into a Great Room!”
• April 27-29 – Monica Pedersen, HGTV Dream Home 2012 – “Make It Beautiful: Designs and Ideas for Entertaining at Home”
• May 4-6 – Antonio Ballatore, The Antonio Treatment – “Design Outside of the Box: How to Personalize, Customize, and Inspire”
• May 11-13 – Carter Oosterhouse, Million Dollar Rooms – “10 Renovation Tips You Need To Know”
• May 18-20 – Genevieve Gorder, Dear Genevieve and HGTV Design Star – “Turning Your Landscape Inside Out”

For more information on the festival, you can check out disneyworld.com/flower and continue to check back here for more updates.

See the posts below for more updates on the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival:

• Visit the Haiti: Garden of Many Colors Exhibit at the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival
• Meet Disney Artist Randy Noble at the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival at Walt Disney World Resort
• Tink’s New Fairy Friend Debuts at the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival

Tagged: Epcot, International Flower and Garden Festival, WDW

Filed: Epcot, Special Events, Walt Disney World Resort

Well, the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival, presented by HGTV, is in full bloom! And throughout the festival, we at the Disney Parks Blog will be bringing to your attention to some of the exciting new things for 2012.

One of the great horticulture additions this year is called Haiti: Garden of Many Colors. Sponsored by Haiti Originale, the spectacular garden exhibit showcases signature plants, flowers and crops of Haiti and offers information on the cultural heritage, sustainable art and artifacts of the beautiful island.

Sugar cane, mustard, thyme and curly leaf parsley are bounty from the Creole Garden. Guests can also find information on Recyclable Art, Haitian Arts and Crafts, Art in Motion and the Art of Haitian music; and they can purchase Haitian coffee (a major industry in Haiti) and crafts made by Haitian artists.

Located between the Germany Pavilion and the African Outpost in World Showcase at Epcot, the exhibit features a refreshment stand called Bwason Lakay, meaning “Haitian Refreshments” in Haitian Creole, which offers island libations – in both adult and non-alcoholic versions. And speaking of color, the Art in Motion storyboard gives insight into Haiti’s colorful tap-tap buses.

Haiti Originale was formed to help Haitians help themselves by supporting sustainable economic and social development through the promotion of quality Haitian-made products within Haiti and around the world. Their cause mark is “par Haiti – pour Haiti,” which means “from Haiti – for Haiti.”

Organizers of the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival have told us that the garden has been a huge success – both with our guests and our cast. At Walt Disney World Resort, we have a large population of cast from Haiti and that speak Haitian-Creole as a second language.

The Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival, presented by HGTV, runs until May 20. For more information on the festival, you can check out disneyworld.com/flower and continue to check back here for more updates.

Tagged: Epcot, International Flower and Garden Festival, WDW

Filed: Epcot, Special Events, Walt Disney World Resort

A few weeks ago, I gave you a first look at items created for the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival. Since that time, I went to the festival with my parents who were visiting from Ohio and my son (hello, new favorite coconut flavored beverage from the “Haiti: Garden of Many Colors” display!). While in the Festival Center, I spotted the original watercolor print for sale created by Disney Design Group senior artist and fellow Ohioan, Randy Noble. I recently spoke with Randy about the creation of this year’s colorful, topiary-inspired image.

“This is my second poster for the [Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival],” explained Randy. “I’ve also created works for the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival as well as for Star Wars Weekends.”

Randy, who has been with the company for 14 years, had a strong background in painting before joining Disney. He said he worked closely with developer Lindsay Voigt to create the image.

“One of the original concepts I had featured Winnie the Pooh with a giraffe topiary,” continued Randy. “Yet, Lindsay and I decided to use the topiary artwork of Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and Donald Duck to tell a more cohesive story.”

Randy will be meeting with fans in the Flower & Garden Festival merchandise tent on the World Showcase promenade near Canada Pavilion during the following dates and times:

• Friday, March 30 – 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
• Saturday, April 28 – 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
• Saturday, May 5 – 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Tagged: Epcot, International Flower and Garden Festival, WDW

Filed: Epcot, Special Events, Walt Disney World Resort

Earlier today, Walt Disney Studios announced the new straight-to-DVD film “Secret of the Wings,” starring Tinker Bell.

This film follows Tink’s adventure into the forbidden Winter Woods. While the DVD won’t be released until Oct. 23, fans can get a sneak peek at one of the new characters from the movie at this year’s Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival. This new character is the sparkling winter fairy, Periwinkle. A topiary of her can be found in the fairies display near the Test Track walkway.

Tagged: Epcot, International Flower and Garden Festival, WDW

Filed: Epcot, Special Events, Walt Disney World Resort

Greetings from the Sunshine State! We’re back again from the 19th annual Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival, presented by HGTV! This year’s festival is in full swing, running now until May 20.

As usual, this year’s event will include favorite elements like beloved Disney character topiaries, “how to” demonstrations and presentations by HGTV, DIY Network and Disney experts, unique gardens themed to the countries of World Showcase, the Flower Power Concert Series and much more.

We recently caught up with another of our special speakers DIY Network’s Jason Cameron filming one of his hit shows “Desperate Landscapes” in Miami. Jason is also the co-host of “Man Caves” on the DIY Network. Jason (appearing March 23-25) gave us the scoop on his seminar called “Working Makeover Magic for Desperate Landscapes.”

You can see Jason in new episodes of “Desperate Landscapes,” on the DIY Network on Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. CT. And “Man Caves” airs on Fridays at 9 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. CT.

And come out to see Jason and all the other HGTV and DIY Network stars scheduled this year. The list includes: (Talent/dates/subjects subject to change)

• March 23-25 – Jason Cameron, DIY Network’s Desperate Landscapes and Man Caves – “Working Makeover Magic for Desperate Landscapes”
• March 30-April 1 – Camille Styles, HGTV.com, Design Happens – “Planning Garden Parties That Are Simple, But Not Your Garden Variety”
• April 6-8 – Dan Faires, HGTV.com, DanMade – “Planning Your Planting with Terrarium, Vertical Gardens and Small Space Greenery”
• April 13-15 – Brandon Johnson, My Yard Goes Disney – “Bringing Disney Inspiration and HGTV Design to Your Backyard”
• April 20-22 – Meg Caswell, Meg’s Great Rooms – “Tips for Turning a Good Room Into a Great Room!”
• April 27-29 – Monica Pedersen, HGTV Dream Home 2012 – “Make It Beautiful: Designs and Ideas for Entertaining at Home”
• May 4-6 – Antonio Ballatore , The Antonio Treatment – “Design Outside of the Box: How to Personalize, Customize, and Inspire”
• May 11-13 – Carter Oosterhouse, Million Dollar Rooms – “10 Renovation Tips You Need To Know”
• May 18-20 – Genevieve Gorder, Dear Genevieve and HGTV Design Star – “Turning Your Landscape Inside Out”

For more information on the festival, you can check out disneyworld.com/flower and continue to check back here for more updates.

Check out more Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival posts below:

• Celebrating Springtime at Walt Disney World Resort
• Photos For the First Day of Spring at Walt Disney World Resort
• See HGTV’s Sabrina Soto at the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival March 16-18

Tagged: Epcot, International Flower and Garden Festival, Video, WDW

Filed: Epcot, Special Events, Walt Disney World Resort

I was fortunate to be at Epcot for the opening day of the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival recently, and I was just overwhelmed by the incredible variety of flowers on show. I returned and captured a few close-ups of several plants that caught my eye. Take a moment and join me on a rather whimsical photographic journey across our property. Our Disney Horticulture team has done an amazing job – as they always do…

Tagged: Epcot, International Flower and Garden Festival, Photography, Video, WDW

Filed: Epcot, Special Events, Walt Disney World Resort