Spring Blooms Early For Flower and Garden Festival

600 butterflies looking for a place to land, are thrilled that the 17th annual Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival will begin earlier than ever this year.  Opening March 3 and running for a total of 75 garden filled days, this festival will kick Spring into high gear.

The festival is known for its beautiful garden displays of bold colors. This year will be no exception as the earlier start allows richly colored “hardy flowers” like petunias, violas and snapdragons to be used. 

Exploring exhibits and activities geared toward outdoor discovery and fun, guests will be able to plan ahead getting ideas for their own spring and summer gardens. With over 30 million blooms, 120 floating mini-gardens, 45 impatiens flower towers and 700 container gardens featuring flowers, herbs and vegetables, the ideas should be abundant.

Whimsical topiaries will again be center stage as over 100 will be displayed throughout theme park.  70 of those will be Disney character topiaries including the tallest ever, 14 feet tall, Goofy. Featuring 25 different plants, grasses and mosses more color than ever has been added to these living works of art.

A photo-op must has been created at the front entrance of Epcot (map) as Donald Duck and his pals set up camp to celebrate the Great Outdoors.  While Daisy Duck roasts marshmallows over a campfire and Pluto rests in his “pup tent”, poor Goofy standing near a real life waterfall and pond suffers a fishing mishap.

Based on the 1930 Grant Wood painting, the first ever American Gothic Mickey and Minnie topiary scene will stand at World Showcase Plaza.  Other exhibits at the World Showcase will be the art of bonsai at the Japan Pavilion and the love story between plants and perfume will be told at the France Pavilion presented by Guerlain.

Love, or at least butterflies, will be in the air in Fawn’s Butterfly House at Pixie Hollow as 10 species of native butterflies, more than 600 of the winged beauties, will flit around foliage and flowers. Don’t forget to wear bright colors and you just might become a makeshift landing pad. Caterpillars will emerge from their chrysalis in a special discovery exhibit sure to thrill guests of all ages.

What’s more fun than an outdoor concert? A special feature of the Garden Festival includes the Flower Power Concerts held each Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings. For 11 weekends, three times nightly, the America Gardens Theatre  (map)becomes a living  jukebox playing hit songs of the 1960′s – 1990′s by the bands that made them popular.  Among the artists currently scheduled, though always subject to change, will be Jose Feliciano, Paul Revere & The Raiders, Davy Jones, Chubby Checker and David Cassidy.

The 2010 Flower Festival Guide  contains information including maps, the concert schedules, gardening programs and more.  All concerts, exhibits, and presentations are included with Epcot theme park admission. 

Here’s wishing you a green thumb and a springtime filled with beauty!

Photo Selection: WDW News