Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival Opens

Epcot Flower & Garden Festival

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This is my 12^th year covering the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival. As the park kicks off its 18^th festival (March 2-May 15), I salute Disney’s horticulturists, who manage to come up with new ideas (the Pixie Hollow Fairy Garden with Tink and friends as topiaries is adorable) and spruce up the old ones (last year’s Minnie’s Butterfly Garden has doubled in size and morphed into what is now called Bambi’s Butterfly House).

Eric Darden, the horticulture manager of the festival, explained to me that this year the festival is 75 days long, so guests can look forward to seeing the bolder winter bedding plants like snapdragons now, and after the March 18 no-freeze date the spring blooms. That’s good enough reason for me to go at least twice. Don’t-miss exhibits include the Fragrance Garden in France, a display of plants used to create perfumes, and the English Tea Garden in England, where a 20-minute guided tour will have you stocking up on Twinings Teas (all sold in the adjacent shop). A couple years ago tour guide Stephen Twining, 10^th generation of the Twining family, told me that to drink tea with sugar is barbarian. Funny how I never forgot that comment, yet still prefer mine with sugar. Sorry Stephen.

Tags: Disney | Epcot | Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival