Apartment Garden Blues (Blog): Topiaries at Epcot's Flower & Garden Festival

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Published on Sunday, June 15 2014 18:34

Written by Alexandra Martin

The Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival began in 1993, and visitors to this Disney World theme park get to enjoy Disney-themed floral displays and topiaries. This year's festival was held from March 5 to May 18, and as always park guests experienced the unique displays, play areas, seasonal foods at the outdoor kitchens around the World Showcase, and could meet gardening experts to learn more about gardening.

Check out this promotional video from this year's event.

A few years ago I took a trip to Disney World at the time of the festival, and I got to view some of the elaborate topiaries and beautiful gardens on displays. Here are 12 of my favorite scenes of the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival when I attended in 2012.

1. A Fantasia Mickey topiary greeted guests at the park's entrance.

2. Along with Mickey Mouse were the ballerina ostriches from Walt Disney's 1940 Fantasia film.

3. A graceful Snow White topiary in front of the World Showcase Lagoon.

4. Snow White was accompanied by some of her dwarf buddies.

5. My absolute favorite display at the 2011 Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival was Lady and the Tramp (don't you just love her ears?) surrounded by flowers in terra cotta pots!

6. Cinderella and her Prince Charming are displayed dancing.

7. Winnie the Pooh also made an appearance at the 2011 Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival.

8. The detail in these Disney topiaries is wonderful! Even the stomach area being composed of a different ivy is a wonderful subtle detail that makes all the difference.

9. Cogsworth is one of my favorite Disney characters of all time, and I loved seeing him on display!

10. Tow Mater and his friend Lightning McQueen from the Cars movies were life-sized!

11. Woody and Buzz from Toy Story had an incredible amount of detail on them. Notice the toy block on the left is actually a plant container!

12. Lotso (or Lots-o'-Huggin' Bear) from Toy Story 3 was made pink with real flowers!

The 2015 Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival is from March 4 to May 17, so start planning your trip early!

If you don't make it to the festival, make sure to check out Epcot's experimental greenhouses and take a "Behind the Seeds" tour.

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Alexandra is a professional writer from Southern California who grows vegetables, herbs, lots of aloe vera and one giant Boston fern in her balcony garden. She also grows dracaena, pothos and English ivy indoors. She loves traveling and birdwatching in addition to gardening.

Apartment Garden Blues (Blog): 23 Cats Who Might Love the Garden More Than You

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Published on Sunday, June 01 2014 22:08

Written by Alexandra Martin

My cat, Sprinkles, is an indoor cat who accompanies me outside while I'm working in the garden, and she likes to watch the neighbors walk by below, smell the container plants, stick her face into cobwebby places and try to sniff out the wild birds that she saw at the bird feeder that morning! Sometimes I think she's having a way better time than I am. I'm watering, pruning and picking garden pests off my plants, all while keeping an eye on my cat to make sure she stays safe.

Like Sprinkles, the 23 cats pictured below definitely love their outdoor time!

See more cute pictures of cats enjoying gardens>>

1. This kitten is pretending he's a tiger stalking prey in the jungle!

2. This older cat has a lion's mane, but instead of hunting, he'd rather just kneel down in the flowers and watch what's going on.

3. This model knows the camera's on her, so she poses by staring pensively into the distance.

4. For cats, a plant pot labyrinth is always fun to navigate.

5. This cat likes to take inventory of all the container plants his kitty parent grows.

6. This spotless white cat uses the garden path so as to not get dirty!

7. This blue-eyed beauty sniffs some strong-smelling garlic leaves.

8. Was that a bird I heard? A squirrel?

9. This black cat decided to lay down amongst the leaves and peek out above them.

10. Another model poses with a profile shot in front of some shade-loving container plants.

11. This orange and white cat speaks to the importance of wearing an identification collar, especially for cats who venture outside.

12. This little guy's owners make him wear a collar with a bell so he won't sneak up on birds and kill them!

13. This urban-dweller asks his mom, "Is it time yet to go out into the balcony garden?"

14. This girl's mom said she couldn't go outside in the garden, so she settles for sitting by the sunny sliding glass door.

15. A windowsill is always a great place to be if you're a cat. The best view contains birds, of course, but flowers are nice, too.

16. This cat performed an amazing acrobatic feat to get a drink of fresh rain water.

17. Sitting by the birdbath probably scares the birds away, rather than attracting them, but I don't think this cat realizes that yet.

18. Laying amongst the flowers without having to do any of the gardening work. Our cats have it all, don't they?

19. At least this orange cat appreciate his mom's work in growing these pretty flowers.

20. Resting on a cool rock in a shady garden spot. The best place to be in summer.

21. His face suggests he's grumpy, but surely this cat must be happy to be outside!

22. This cat doesn't hide it. He loves basking in the sun.

23. The next time you're outside with you're cat, watch her. What does she like most about being outside? Snap a picture of her enjoying your garden and share it on the Balcony Container Gardening Facebook page!

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Alexandra is a professional writer from Southern California who grows vegetables, herbs, lots of aloe vera and one giant Boston fern in her balcony garden. She also grows dracaena, pothos and English ivy indoors. She loves traveling and birdwatching in addition to gardening.

Apartment Garden Blues (Blog): 10 Terrariums You'll Wish You'd Made

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Published on Sunday, May 18 2014 21:17

Written by Alexandra Martin

I find setting up a terrarium a fascinating experience every single time I do it! They come out different every time, and they're fun to take apart and redo, often with tiny figurines of dinosaurs, safari animals or teeny tiny people. Sometimes the different container shapes and sizes make selecting and pruning terrarium plants a challenge, but that's all a part of the fun. Enjoy these 10 awesome terrariums that you'll wish you'd made! Maybe you can draw some inspiration from them for your next terrarium project.

Learn how to set up a terrarium>>

1. There's nothing like admiring your newly set-up terrarium. If only I had a garden work bench like this one!

2. You can make a while tiny world with a terrarium. I love this dome with succulents that look like little palm trees and bushes in a desert scene!

3. This technically may be a small greenhouse, but this "terrarium" is located in the United States Botanic Garden in Washington DC and the wood and glass structure is a work of art in itself!

4. I wonder what treasure is inside this tiny sphere of a terrarium. Terrariums are often filled with mystery and surprise.

5. This serene scene features a miniature woman.

6. This striking fairy garden terrarium located in a garden store in an upscale outdoor mall in Southern California. A fairy peeks out of her world and into shoppers that pass by.

7. One of my favorite things about terrariums is that they make you think about glass containers differently. I have a jar exactly like this one in my kitchen pantry that I keep flour in ... but every time I open it I think about what kind of plants would fit well once I've finished up the flour!

8. While you can't do too much with very tiny glass containers, moss like this can grow well even in an old light bulb!

9. These open terrariums can be dangled off of twisted metal stands or hung in a group from the ceiling. They're definitely a stylish way to decorate your apartment.

10. The absolute best thing about terrariums is that reflect who you are. They can be whimsical, serene, adventurous or whatever you want them to be!

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Alexandra is a professional writer from Southern California who grows vegetables, herbs, lots of aloe vera and one giant Boston fern in her balcony garden. She also grows dracaena, pothos and English ivy indoors. She loves traveling and birdwatching in addition to gardening.