A NOTE TO OUR READERS:
"Orlando in Bloom" is from the January 2007 issue of Southern Living.
Because prices, dates, and other specifics are subject to change, please check all
information to make sure it's still current before making your travel plans.
Spring roars into The Sunshine State faster than a roller
coaster. Families relax in Epcot beneath umbrellas of flowering trees.
An artist tries to capture the vivid confetti of blooms at Harry P. Leu
Gardens’s Lake Rowena.
You can see spring everywhere you look. Savor the season at these
places.
A World of Flowers
Banks of blossoms, bulging flower
baskets, and gardens from 11 nations help Epcot put on the biggest
floral show in Walt Disney World.
Stroll along the Rose Walk, which leads from the Imagination!
Pavilion in Future World to World Showcase. The flowers usually stay in
bloom through Valentine’s Day. The Canada Pavilion holds the park’s
largest displays of seasonal plants. Squadrons of butterflies glide over
bursts of blossoms in the colorful garden"in the United Kingdom. For an
inside look, book a "Gardens of the World" walking tour open to guests
16 and older. Cost is $59 per person; (407) 939-8687.
Close to Perfect
Camellias steal the show at Harry P.
Leu Gardens. They bloom as bright as Easter eggs at the edge of Lake
Rowena. Dianthus and sweet alyssum bask in sunny beds. Get here early
enough in February to inhale the fragrance of one of the largest rose
gardens in Florida. (The plants are pruned in mid-month.)
It’s also one of the most accessible gardens in the South. A home
demonstration garden features an enabling area for people of all
abilities with raised beds that let you get close to the plants. That’s
something even the youngest visitors love; www.leugardens. org or (407)
246-2620.
Disney Fun Facts
Acreage devoted to landscapes and gardens: 4,000
Plants and annuals planted each year: more than 3 million
Roses planted: nearly 13,000
Hanging baskets produced each year: more than 5,000
Number of beneficial insects released annually to control plant pests: 12.5 million
More Flowers
The 14th annual Epcot International Flower
and Garden Festival runs April 5-June 3. Expanded to 60 days this year,
the festival features dazzling floral displays, massive topiaries, and
educational programs. For more information visit
www.disneyworld.com/flower, or call (407) 934-7639.
