Now that the weather is warming up, and birds wake me up every morning, gardening has been on my mind! A few months back, we enjoyed watching the Disney special on Hulu called Decorating Disney: Holiday Magic. (It's still there if you want to see it) and it showed the incredible number of people and how much year round effort goes into into making Disney's parks so magical, but one area that really surprised me was the gardening department. While every time we have gone to Disney, I've enjoyed the wonderful scenery, it's been just that, walking along, thinking how nice everything looks. I had no idea how LONG it takes to make it all look so wonderful! Disney Horticulturists do so much, but today I am just focusing on the topiary. Every Disney topiary starts with an idea, then multiple sketches. Once those are approved, a small statue is made, in the shape of the final product. Welders take over the next step, making a steel frame in the exact shape of the statue, and this part can take several months. Once the frame is made, the inside is stuffed with moss, then thousands, sometimes hundreds of thousands of plants are put on the frame. Once the topiary is completed, it still needs to be maintained to look it's best for guests, so they are constantly being taken care of. Because it takes so long to make a topiary, once one is no longer on display (say, a special holiday made one), it is taken back to the Disney World Nursery, and taken good care of until it is needed again. If taken care of, the topiary can last for decades! Check out a few of my favorites! Copyright Disney I stumbled upon a really neat video where Martha Stewart gets taken into the Disney World Nursery, and gets to work with them to create a topiary. There you can see how it goes, from beginning with a sketch, then a statue, then a frame and the final product! For some reason, my computer is playing it funny, I have great sound, but the video is speed up a little. Hopefully it plays well for you! Here is the link. If you'd love a few more pictures, you can visit Disney's website by clicking here, and get more information on their Flower and Garden Festival, where you can see old favorites, new creations and more flowers than you never knew, you never knew! Stop by on facebook and share a few of your favorites, I'd love to see them!
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A while back, I did a post on the incredible philanthropic acts that the Disney company and it's employees do. If nothing else it's worth a peek to see the surprise of WHO designed the Toys for Tots logo! A few days back, I stumbled across this, and just knew I needed to share it. Disney plans to reinvent the experiences that children and their families have when in children's hospitals around the globe. Over the next five years Disney's Imagineers are going to be working to make those stressful hospital visits more relaxing. Everyone knows you heal better, and faster when you aren't as stressed, and are in a comfortable atmosphere, and I can't say as I've ever been in any hospital where I felt comfortable and stress free. It's all so sterile looking, so pale and not the least bit relaxing so I am so excited to hear that this extra spacial magic from Disney, will be shared with these kids and their families! My favorite of the ideas the Imagineers have is this: "
The first Children's hospital to experience this will be in the Texas Children's Hospital. If you'd like to read the whole article, click here, it will take you right there. Way to go Disney! I'm still a little mad about those new parking fees, but it's the stuff like this that reminds me you've got a good heart! I've mentioned before how I do tend to overpack but there are some things that I will always pack, even if space is tight, for this very reason! Someone, at some point is going to get hurt, or sick. It might be something little, like that poor skinned knee from skipping excitedly down the sidewalk, or the lovely case of the stomach bug that hit just as you pulled into Magic Kingdom. There is nothing, nothing at all, worse than being sick, or hurt, and then having to do track down what you need. It's easy enough to pack a few essentials with you before you leave on your trip, and then you'll have them, just in case. What do I think are essentials? Bandaids in assorted sizes ointment thermometor Tylenol or Advil, both children and adult pepto bismal or some other sort of upset stomach/anti diarrheal benedryl, both children and adult any prescription medicine If you want to get fancy, and have a little extra room, I add some alcohol wipes, larger gauze pads and some medical tape, and an anti itch cream. You might be wondering, why worry about benedryl? Or Tylenol? The chances you'll need it is slim, and can't you get it anywhere? Yes, chances are slim, and sure, most places sell it, but when it's 9pm, and you are in a strange place and have discovered your child got bitten by something, or is allergic to a new food, or it's 2am and they have a fever, it's VERY hard to find a place within minutes that will have children's medicines. It doesn't take much space, but I promise you, once you start packing a few of those supplies with you, you'll not only realize how much you've come to rely on them, but also how much money you save, using your own Advil for that splitting headache, instead of the overpriced giftshop bottles! My little first aid bag is pretty small, it's the one that every year, Target gives free when you purchase 3 first aid items. Next time you see it in the store, get your bandaids, ointment and gauze, plus a free bag! They are great for on the go, or at home. One last tip! As we are approaching the warmer months, and you are planning your summer vacations, click here to read so you don't forget about the number one way to ruin ANY summer fun! Know the warning signs in advance, and take precaution now! If you have any suggestions of things you'd put in a mini med kit, let me know! I might need to add them in mine! Photo by Disney Disney has been teasing us all with little bits and pieces of the new Star Wars Land, Galaxy Edge. Could it be they are also giving a few clues about it in a new book series? Long time Star Wars author Timothy Zahn is back with another new book, Thrawn: Alliances . The second of a new series, this story takes place on the same planet that Galaxy's Edge is located.. Batuu. Could Disney surprise the book series fans with some easter eggs? I'm betting they do! If you want to find out more, here's a few links! http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Thrawn:_Alliances https://www.theverge.com/2018/3/23/17157460/disney-disneyland-star-wars-galaxys-edge-batuu-new-planet-thrawn-novel-tease |
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