(Disney)

The Magic of Spring

Spring is a magical time of year: birds sing delightfully while flowers bloom, bursting with color. The wonders of nature are often so amazing, the season can feel like it belongs in a Disney movie.

At the 20th Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival, guests can experience spring as imagined by Disney. The scene of the season is set by sweeping garden landscapes that pop with bright blossoms and whimsical topiary spectacles featuring Disney characters. Taking place at Walt Disney World Resort, the festival opened March 6 and runs through May 19.

Prior to the festival's opening, almost all of the plants were already installed and on show. "Most of the bedding plants installed for the festival kickoff go in early and are cold hardy," explains Eric Darden, Festival Horticulture Manager. "They will have to be replaced halfway thru the Festival when it gets too warm for them."

While early March average lows for Walt Disney Resort are in the low 50s, this year a freeze occurred a few days before the March 6 opening of the festival. In order to protect the plants, Darden explains, "We used 85,000 square feet of frost cloth and lots of heaters." He adds, "To protect our topiaries, we buy military surplus parachutes to cover them."

Aside from the garden and topiary displays, there are daily hands-on gardening seminars and events throughout the 75-day festival. Weekends at the festival include guest visits from HGTV celebrity designers and the Flower Power concert series spotlighting artists from the '60s and '70s such as The Guess Who, Village People, and Chubby Checker. 2013 brings a few new additions to the festival, including Garden Marketplaces with food and beverages made from fresh, local produce and illuminated gardens at night.

View photos and get behind the scenes information about the 20th Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival on the .

For more information, visit . The festival, including all gardening programs and exhibits, is included in regular Epcot admission.

Spring tip: Spring is a great time to plant tender bulbs, such as elephant’s ear, gladiolus or dahlia to bloom in summer.

(Matt Stroshane/Disney)

Garden Party

Floral versions of Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Pluto and Donald Duck (with Daisy Duck in a cameo) are featured in a cookout scene at the Epcot front entrance.

(Gregg Newton/Disney)

Primping Miss Daisy

A Disney topiary specialist works in the topiary greenhouse on the Daisy Duck topiary. According to Darden, the "topiaries can take up to six months to fabricate."

(Matt Stroshane/Disney)

Florida Fresh

This is the festival's first year to feature garden and backyard-living-inspired food and beverage items at marketplace locations around the World Showcase promenade.

(Matt Stroshane/Disney)

Bevy of Beverages

Fresh fruits, herbs and veggies inspire a menu of cocktails and non-alcoholic "mocktails" for guests at the 20th Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival.

(Gregg Newton/Disney)

Somewhere Over the Spaceship Earth

The Land of Oz Garden features hand-made glass poppies as well as many varieties of live plants.

(Matt Stroshane/Disney)

Radiator Springs Garden

Mater the tow truck topiary from "Cars 2," can be found at the Radiator Springs garden during the 20th Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival.

(Matt Stroshane/Disney)

The Terrific Two

The first-ever topiaries of Mike and Sulley from the upcoming "Monsters Univeristy" are on display at the festival.

(Gregg Newton/Disney)

Perfect Produce

Heather Will-Browne of Disney's horticulture team plants one of the produce gardens for one of the Garden Marketplaces.

(Matt Stroshane/Disney)

La Danse des Fleurs

Topiaries of Princess Aurora and Prince Phillip dance among the flowers at the France pavilion.

For more information, visit . The festival, including all gardening programs and exhibits, is included in regular Epcot admission.