Bonsai at WDW EPCOT Flower and Garden Show

Yesterday members of the Bonsai Societies of Florida brought their trees to EPCOT for the 2 month long Flower and Garden Show. Here's a few photos.

Disney revised the layout a bit and set up a sand garden with bonsai displayed in it,

From the rear forward there is a Japanese BlackPine by Ed Trout, a Brazalian Raintree by Ronn Miller, a Bougainvilla by Adam Lavigne, a Buttonwood by Paul Pikel and a Ficus Microcarpa by Loiuse Leister.


My Twin trunk Australian Pine called "Atlantis Lost". It overlooked the lagoon.


Mike Feduccia showed this bunjin Bald Cypress.


Erik Wigert had this bougainvillea.


There were also trees in the meadow area. A Dwarf Yaupon Holly (Ilex vomitoria schillings) by Dr Reggie Perdue.


Another new area to display the bonsai between the path and the lagoon.

Here is a Chinese Elm and another Bougy.





The last few years Disney had us place a tree on a rock in the middle of the Japanese garden pond.


Loading shots are always fun.


Building stands.

The proverbial Pine in a trunk shot.


SUVs with trees.




It's a great event. Now that the show will last two months, who knows how many people will see the bonsai - probably over a million. In two months it will be interesting to see how the trees hold up.

very cool!! hopefully I get to see it someday. My question, who will be taking care of the trees during the 2 months period?

alonsou wrote:very cool!! hopefully I get to see it someday. My question, who will be taking care of the trees during the 2 months period?

EPCOT staff hand waters the trees daily.

Each week a BSF volunteer visits the trees to trim, weed and report any problems.

Rob Kempinski wrote:

alonsou wrote:very cool!! hopefully I get to see it someday. My question, who will be taking care of the trees during the 2 months period?

EPCOT staff hand waters the trees daily.

Each week a BSF volunteer visits the trees to trim, weed and report any problems.

IMHO
Isn't watering one of the hardest skills to learn in Bonsai?, I would think twice about having someone out of the bonsai world watering my trees...

The EPCOT staff that Rob mentions are all professional gardeners. EPCOT landscaping is predominately container grown trees & shrubs that are all watered in that manner early in the morning, especially during this Flower & Garden Festival. In the 18 plus years I have participated, my trees have always come back to me as healthy ( or healthier ) as when they were dropped off. And having the local bonsai club volunteers weekly inspection spots & corrects any problems.

Ed

alonsou wrote:

Rob Kempinski wrote:

alonsou wrote:very cool!! hopefully I get to see it someday. My question, who will be taking care of the trees during the 2 months period?

EPCOT staff hand waters the trees daily.

Each week a BSF volunteer visits the trees to trim, weed and report any problems.

IMHO
Isn't watering one of the hardest skills to learn in Bonsai?, I would think twice about having someone out of the bonsai world watering my trees...

I don't think so. Watering is not that complex. This time of year the trees will require water each day so no worry about over watering. BSF has taken the time to ask the waterers to be careful and explained to the staff how to gently water . Plus as Ed said they are experienced container gardeners. Although one year they took a short cut and used a high pressure hose on one of the trees further back in the meadow. That ended up washing away a lot of the soil which unfortunately killed the tree. After Disney paid for the tree they were careful to take the lessons learned and incorporate it in future effort.

EPCOT sure is lucky to have such nice bonsai and a great, old bonsai community to draw from.

Hi Rob,
Does this event take place every year?
Is this the Black pine which was at the 5th World Bonsai Convention?
Xuan

Hi Xuan,

yes every year for the last 15 or 16.

As for the Japanese Black Pine being at DC, I'm pretty sure this one was not there. I flipped through the commemorative album and didn't see it. Ed Trout would have to confirm it as its his tree.

Rob, your twin trunk is a beauty. Congratulations, great work.
Regards
Peter.

Rob Kempinski wrote:Yesterday members of the Bonsai Societies of Florida brought their trees to EPCOT for the 2 month long Flower and Garden Show.

It's a great event. Now that the show will last two months, who knows how many people will see the bonsai - probably over a million. In two months it will be interesting to see how the trees hold up.

Kudos to all, Rob. Great trees and a great place to display them!

Zach

Thanks for posting this event. I enjoyed looking at the trees and it sounds like they're in good hands.
Best,
Todd

Very nice display, good bonsai.
Congratulations to all on the honor of getting your trees into the display.
Jerry

Rob
Thanks for posting. Very impressive trees, and the displays are inspirational. It's been a couple of years sence I have visited Epcot, but in person it's even better.

Mitch

Andrea just popped a few more pictures up of the display on the Wigerts facebook page.
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150662632374660.420409.313646929659&type=1

-Jay