The 2024 EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival is underway, and global gardens have arrived at EPCOT, filling the park with beautiful blooms.
Global Gardens
New for this year are the PB&J Garden presented by Smucker’s Uncrustables, China Penjing Garden, and Gnome Garden.
The Community Garden – World Discovery
Connect with the earth and each other at this celebration of a diverse and thriving communal garden plot.
The Community Garden is located in World Discovery, behind Connections Eatery. The Donald Duck topiary is in this garden, which showcases how a community can come together to cultivate the land.
Perfect for growing a wide range of plants, these ingenious gardens can be found in areas as different as a blacktop parking lot or an open field.
Next to the Donald topiary is a pot labeled as growing tomatoes.
Festival Blooms – World Celebration
Admire thousands of flowers that form colorful, living panoramas.
The festival blooms are large flowerbeds along World Showcase lagoon. Flowers are arranged to look like a tapestry of giant florals and butterflies.
Connections Conservatory Garden – World Celebration Near Connections Eatery
Settle into this thoughtful garden full of floral inspirations for your indoor spaces.
These indoor flower arrangements can be found near Connections Eatery.
They feature a blend of tropical plants and flowers.
Guests can sit inside and relax among the vegetation.
Songbird Meadow Presented by Wild Birds Unlimited – World Discovery
Songbirds are an important part of many ecosystems—including the one in your own backyard! Discover simple steps you can take at home to help these feathered friends thrive.
Songbird Meadow can be found in World Discovery.
This garden highlights different birds and the plants that can act as both their food and shelter.
One of the birds featured in the garden is the Eastern Bluebird.
The Northern Cardinal is also highlighted with a sign detailing facts about the bird.
Other fun facts are sprinkled throughout the garden area.
Guests are encouraged to grow native plants near their homes to help the wildlife in their area.
One of the flowers you can spot in this garden is the strawflower.
A collection of bird feeders has been installed to attract local birds.
Here, you can see saw palmetto plants.
Bright orange cosmos are also planted in the garden.
Guests can learn about Purple Martins, a bird with a rich history at EPCOT.
Songbirds aren’t nature’s virtuosos! Bats also have their own unique sound, which is ultrasonic and much too high for humans to hear.
By inviting songbirds into your garden, you can ensure their music will be enjoyed for generations to come.
Bring the entire family to explore this camp-themed garden where little ones are invited to jump, play and climb.
Located near Creations Shop in World Discovery, the garden of Camp Get Out ‘N’ Play! features a canoe filled with flowers.
The garden welcomes guests into an interactive playground area.
Prehistoric Garden – World Discovery Near Mission: SPACE
Imagine life on Earth 65 million years ago with astounding plant life that’s thrived since the age of the dinosaurs.
At Prehistoric Garden, guests can experience plants that were around when dinosaurs roamed the earth. It can be found near Mission: SPACE in World Discovery.
This collection includes the Norfolk Island Pine. Throughout the garden, you can also spot metal dinosaurs. Before the festival’s start, tiny plastic dinosaurs roamed the planters, but were promptly removed.
Here, we have the Crocodile Fern and Eyelash Fern.
Next up is the Sundew and Spike Moss.
A group of Venus Fly Traps are at the front of one planter.
King Sago and Rabbit Foot Fern are planted among the dinosaurs.
Floating Gardens – World Nature
Peer upon more than 170 petite plots drifting on the ponds that border the bridge to World Showcase.
The floating plants can be found in all of the bodies of water around the bridge to World Showcase.
Together with the Festival Blooms, they add a great deal of color to EPCOT.
Bold Bromeliads – World Nature in The Land Pavilion
Observe a variety of unique and colorful plants that can adapt to a wide range of climates and conditions.
Look out for this garden right behind The Land Pavilion sign in World Nature.
Bromeliads can be found in an astounding variety of locations from dry, rocky hillsides to tall trees in the rainforest.
The tropical plants stand tall.
Bromeliads grow in several bright colors, like purple and red.
Butterfly Landing Presented by AdventHealth – World Nature Near Imagination!
View a kaleidoscope of butterflies up close, in all their extraordinary color. Learn about butterfly lifecycles and maybe even see one emerge from its chrysalis. Closes at dusk.
Guests enter into an enclosed, tent-like structure to experience Butterfly Landing, located near the Imagination! Pavilion in World Nature.
Butterflies of all types can be found inside.
Guests are asked not to touch the butterflies they find.
The winged insects fly freely in the enclosed space.
Plants that attract butterflies, like the Blanket Flower, can be found inside.
Walt Disney World is breeding Atala butterflies, once believed to be extinct in Florida, and releasing them to their native habitat.
Guests are advised on how to plant their own butterfly habitat through diagrams inside the exhibit.
One display shows caterpillars that have grown their chrysalises, waiting to emerge as butterflies.
The Honey Bee-stro Hosted by National Honey Board – Rosewalk Near Imagination!
Learn about honeybees’ critical role in the environment, and delight in sweet and savory treats made possible by their hard work.
Found at the Rosewalk near the Imagination! Pavilion, in The Honey Bee-stro Garden, guests can develop a deeper understanding of our relationship with bees.
Here, you can compare your height with various amounts of bees.
Guests can test their bee knowledge with lift-the-flap quizzes on this display.
This photo opportunity allows guests to become flowers themselves.
There are tables for guests to enjoy their festival foods within the garden.
The Canna flower is part of Spike’s Pollen-Nation Exploration.
Blossoms of Fragrance Presented by Scentsy – World Showcase Bridge
Follow your nose and form lasting memories with the help of fresh, unforgettable fragrances.
On World Showcase Bridge, you’ll find a collection of flowers known for their scents in Blossoms of Fragrance.
The signs are scented with opportunities to smell fragrances created with the planted flowers.
Three butterfly topiaries can be found here, as well.
Follow your nose and form lasting memories with the help of fresh, unforgettable fragrances.
Also on the World Showcase Bridge is the PB&J Garden, new for this year’s festival.
There are fun facts related to the flavors of Smucker’s Uncrustables, who sponsor the garden.
On Saturdays and Sundays, beginning at noon, Cast Members at the garden hand out free peanut butter and grape jelly Smucker’s Uncrustables sandwiches. The sandwiches are available until they run out.
Tropical Rainforest and Extraordinary Orchids – World Showcase – Mexico Pavilion
Uncover the rich biodiversity of the Mexican rainforest and learn about its highly adaptive species.
Outside of the Mexico Pavilion, guests can learn all about the tropical rainforest.
Warm, wet regions around the equator are optimal for plant growth.
The garden breaks down the different layers of the rainforest, starting with the forest floor.
Next is the understory layer, which is home to orchids and bromeliads.
This area is filled with colorful orchids.
The canopy area is considered the roof of the rainforest.
Guests can look up for a taste of the canopy layer.
The garden is right next to the main building of the pavilion.
Desert Garden – World Showcase – Mexico Pavilion
Discover the special adaptations that allow plants in arid climates to adjust to the harshest of growing conditions.
Also at the Mexico Pavilion is the Desert Garden, which focuses on the succulents and cacti that grow in the driest of areas.
The garden is made up of plants that can survive in those desert climates.
Another one of Spike’s Pollen-Nation Exploration plants can be found here.
Bamboo Garden – World Showcase – China Pavilion
Visit this garden to see bamboo in a variety of colors, patterns and sizes.
At the China Pavilion, you can find a small Bamboo Garden.
Discover ancient Chinese art that recreates miniature landscapes.
New to the festival this year is the China Pavilion’s China Penjing Garden.
Each of the plants displayed is its own miniature landscape.
Gnome Garden – World Showcase – Germany Pavilion
Discover topiary versions of magical garden gnomes, originating from German folk tales.
Also new to Flower & Garden this year is the Gnome Garden in the Germany Pavilion.
Each one of the three gnomes wears a hat covered in different greenery.
Miniature Garden – World Showcase – Germany Pavilion
Appreciate the little things in this showcase of diminutive dwellings nestled in a forest of fine shrubs.
The Germany Pavilion is also home to the Miniature Garden, which is inspired by the nearby Garden Railway.
Miniature cottages on display are made of all sorts of items found in nature.
This one utilizes pinecones and small twigs.
On this cottage, you can spot acorns and pebbles.
Here, pieces of wood and twigs have been used for assembly.
Garden Italiano – World Showcase – Italy Pavilion
From fresh spaghetti sauce to pizza toppings, this Tuscan kitchen garden features all the produce and herbs needed to create a classic Italian feast.
In the Italy Pavilion, Garden Italiano is filled with herbs used in Italian cuisine.
The herbs are not labeled, but it is noted that it’s a Tuscan garden.
Bonsai Collection – World Showcase – Japan Pavilion
Learn about the art of bonsai, some of the finest living sculptures. Bonsai masters carefully shape and tend these miniature works of art, creating peace and balance with the earth.
The Bonsai Collection can be found in the Japan Pavilion.
In the ancient Japanese art of bonsai, trees and shrubs are cultivated with exquisite care to create miniature likenesses of much larger trees.
This is a 22-year-old Pithecellobuim tortum.
A 60-year-old Plinia caulifora is also on display.
More bonsai can be found deeper in the pavilion.
There is another bonsai garden outside of Shiki-Sai: Sushi Izakaya.
Kokedema Garden – World Showcase – Japan Pavilion
Admire fresh expressions of an ancient Japanese art at this tranquil garden.
Kokedama Garden shares the art of kokedama, or ornamental plants made using string and moss, and no planter.
The flowers in this area are shades of pink and blue.
Guests can learn to make their own kokedama, which translates to “moss ball.”
Guests can keep an eye out for a hidden Mickey and Minnie within the kokedama.
Shishi Odoshi – World Showcase – Japan Pavilion
Contemplate the methodical movement and soothing rhythm of this traditional Japanese bamboo water fountain.
The third garden in Japan is Shishi-odoshi, which translates to “scare deer.”
The water fountains were originally made to scare off any wildlife attempting to graze in the gardens.
The tubes are made of bamboo that slowly fill with water. When there’s enough water for the tubes to tip, they’ll make a thumping sound, alarming any nearby animals.
This garden also has bamboo wind chimes.
Spice Garden – World Showcase – Morocco Pavilion
Discover how Eastern cultures flourished, trading signature spices and herb blends once considered more valuable than gold.
The Morocco Pavilion’s Spice Garden is a collection of different spices.
Parsley is growing in one planter.
Another planter grows ginger.
Bouquet Garden – World Showcase – France Pavilion
See bountiful blooms perfect for a bouquet of cut flowers.
France’s Bouquet Garden celebrates the flowers used to make decorative arrangements.
There is a wide array of flowers you could put in a bouquet, like Fern Leaf Lavender.
The colorful garden continues with Gerbera Daisies.
There are rows of different flowers to be found in the pavilion.
English Tea Garden Presented by Twinings – World Showcase – United Kingdom Pavilion
Unearth the history and art of tea-blending at this elegant English tea garden—featuring plants used in some of Twinings’ finest blends.
Over at the United Kingdom Pavilion, the English Tea Garden gives guests a look at the plants that go into making their favorite tea flavors.
Each plant is in a teacup-shaped planter, complete with its own “tea bag.” This display is for Lady Grey Flavoured Black Tea.
This teacup holds Peach & Orange.
Guests can learn about how tea leaves are produced.
Shakespeare Garden – World Showcase – United Kingdom Pavilion
Explore the works of Shakespeare in this idyllic garden featuring excerpts from some of the bard’s most famous sonnets—and the dazzling flowers that influenced them.
Also in the United Kingdom Pavilion is the Shakespeare Garden, which honors the works of William Shakespeare, and the plants that inspired him.
A bust of Shakespeare sits at the center of the garden, which can be found next to the pavilion’s recently renovated restrooms.
“Hamlet” includes quite a few flowers with significant meanings.
This passage from “Hamlet” mentions rosemary.
A potted rosemary can be found nearby.
This passage from “Hamlet” mentions a willow.
A weeping willow stands nearby.
Perhaps Shakespeare’s most famous use of flowers comes in “Romeo and Juliet,” with the mention of the rose.
The “What’s in a name?” passage from “Romeo and Juliet” is quoted on this sign in the garden.
Topiary Heritage Garden – World Showcase – United Kingdom Pavilion
Marvel at the intricate and varied techniques employed by the Walt Disney World Horticulture team to create the festival’s fantastically shaped topiaries.
The Topiary Heritage Garden highlights three styles of topiary: Free-form, standard, and shrub.
Topiaries have a long history in the Disney Parks, thanks to Walt Disney’s vision. Landscape architect Bill Evans’ quotes are found throughout this area, to give guests a deeper understanding of the art form.
A shrub topiary of Mickey Mouse stands at the center of the garden.
A single shrub topiary can take up to ten years to produce.
There is an elephant topiary as an example of the shrub style.
This tree is an example of a standard topiary style.
“It’s not only necessary to find new plants; you have to preserve the older ones. If they’re not written up, they’re not grown.”
Bill Evans
Another sculpted tree can be found in the pavilion.
“A building doesn’t yield to the breeze. I can see the life in the trees by the way they move.”
Bill Evans
Which of the Global Gardens is your favorite from this year’s festival? Let us know in the comments below.
Check out all of the topiaries on display for the 2024 EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival, which runs now through May 27, 2024.
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Source: wdwnt.com
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