Children’s Gardening at the Epcot® International Flower & Garden Festival

For the 11th year, FNGLA will participate in the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival with an all-new concept and theme centered on Green Gardening for the family.  Focusing on two typical households, the garden will focus on two “families”: the I.B. Green household and the R.U. Wasteful family and the common practices of each.  The “Green” family will showcase the concepts of “Right Plant, Right Place”, composting, water conservation, gardening for consumption and bio-fuel plants while the “Wasteful” family will highlight some commonly found non-green practices such as improper use of plant material, excess recyclable waste not being recycled and the like.  The concept is in place whilemany details are still being decided as we move to this new, cutting-edge, contemporary theme.

The 2009 Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival will kick-off its opening day celebration Wednesday, March 18 and the festival, including FNGLA’s green garden, will be on display until Monday, June 1.  As in past years, FNGLA is seeking FNGLA member and certified professionals to serve as garden hosts.  While the concept of going green will attract both children and adults alike, FNGLA will carry over its focus on educating the next generation of gardening enthusiasts and will include a play area specifically to attract children to the gardening area.

Volunteers will be asked to host the garden for a 3-hour shift from either noon – 3:00 PM or from 3:00 – 6:00 PM each Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the 10 ½ week festival.  All volunteers gain entrance to the park for the duration of the day committed to the FNGLA Garden for the 3 hour period, but are free to enjoy Epcot and the festival the remainder of the day.  FNGLA Certified volunteers will also receive 2 CEU points for their service.  While we are able to allow gardening qualified friends and spouses to serve as FNGLA volunteers, they must be able to fulfill the duties serving as a host answering gardening questions and interacting with park guests.  We cannot allow children to participate.

Volunteers will be accepted for Opening Day and each extended weekend on a first-come, first-served basis—so don’t delay in coordinating your preferred time slots with your qualified gardening friends!

Click for the Volunteer Form to sign up or contact FNGLA for date availability:  adibella@fngla.org or info@fngla.org.

Click for the Volunteer Packet for volunteer’s use to prepare for their day in FNGLA’s Green Garden.

Click to view the Garden Display Pictorial.

MORE ABOUT THE 2009 GREEN GARDEN
FNGLA’s 2009 “Green Garden” will be located in a new area still located on “the loop” of the international showcase.  With an all-new theme, the garden areas will feature all-new elements from the green and non-green households to a wildlife area to an area focusing on bio-fuel plants and, of course, the natural play structure as seen at the 2008 garden.  With the 2009 garden, FNGLA hopes to showcase plants as part of a lifestyle, and not simply as ornamental elements of a home.

Click for the list of containers in the FNGLA Green Garden.

Click for the Garden's Concepts.

An estimated 2 million guests are expected to visit Epcot during the festival which includes several holidays expected to be heavily attended: the start of Spring, Easter weekend, Mother’s day weekend and Memorial Day.

FNGLA is delighted to partner with the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival to spotlight plants as an everyday enjoyment and family-centered activity.  More details on FNGLA’s partnership with Epcot can be found online at www.fngla.org under the News & Programs heading as a public relations program.  For specific program questions, contact Jennifer Nelis at jnelis@fngla.org.