The Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival shows do-it-yourselfers how to make their backyard the happiest place on Earth.
More than 30 million blooms, 1,000 native butterflies and more than 100 Disney character topiaries are part of the 20th annual festival (running through May 19, which also features HGTV and DIY Network hosts as speakers).
In the "backyard play garden" in Epcot's World Showcase, ideas for unusual outdoor furniture, planters and decor joined a play structure by Minnesota-based Landscape Structures and its HealthBeat outdoor fitness equipment (averages $2,000-$6,000 per piece). Here are five projects (and Disney-approved directions) from the garden.
"These are things that you don't have to be Disney to do," said Carla Shuman, landscape architect at Walt Disney World Resort.
1. Hose chair
This quirky idea can reuse an old chair and hose (especially in a vibrant color).
How to: Soften a 50-foot-long hose in sun or warm water. Loop the midpoint of the hose over the back of the chair frame and wrap around the sides and seat. Screw two ends of the hose together in the front.
2. Succulent fountain
Some homeowners may have an old birdbath or fountain that can be transformed by this project.
How to: Drill holes in the basins. Cover holes with mulch, pot shards or landscape fabric. Plant succulents of different colors or textures. Water regularly, only when soil is dry.
3. Concrete block planter wall
Display plants in an unusual way by using cinder blocks.
How to: Lay a bottom row of concrete blocks, angling blocks occasionally to make pockets for plants. Lay a second row in a stair-step fashion, leaving cells on the bottom exposed. Angle blocks occasionally to make pockets for plants, but don't place the blocks directly over the pockets created on the bottom row. As the design is set, remove sections and glue them together with outdoor adhesive or mortar. Use extra blocks to weigh down the top cells until cured. Drive metal stakes through the open cell into the ground, about every two to three blocks. Partially fill staked cells with mortar if extra stability is needed. Push a piece of hardware cloth into the bottom of the open cell to hold the plant and use outdoor adhesive to glue it into place. Fill each cell with lightweight potting soil. Plant with succulents or other drought-tolerant species.
4. Terracotta friend
The project also can be done on a smaller scale, using tiny pots, Shuman said.
How to: Cut two long ropes for arms and two longer ropes for legs. For the arms, string 4-inch terracotta pots along each arm rope, using the holes at the bottom of the pots; then knot between the pots for spacing. For the legs, string 4-inch terracotta pots along each leg rope, using the holes at the bottom of the pots; then knot between the pots for spacing. Thread both arm ropes through the bottom of a 6-inch pot for the head. Thread both leg ropes through the bottom of an 8-inch pot for the body. Continue the leg ropes through a second 8-inch pot. Attach the two body pots with outdoor-grade glue and let dry. Tie off the leg ropes extending through the top hole. Glue the head and arms to the body. Glue moss between the pots. Add props such as gloves and a hat.
5. Shoe planters
This could be a Mother’s Day gift or project done with kids.
How to: Drill holes in the shoes for drainage. Fill the bottom with gravel, which will help the water drain but weigh down the shoe container so it won't tip over. Fill the shoes with potting soil. Add succulents and other plants.
