Week 11: Animal Kingdom

Monday morning we were originally supposed to work with habitat crew but the planner did not know that we were to be working with them so he sent us with the other resident gardeners for the day and we were to work with habitat crew for the rest of the week. I was sent with Big Judy that morning. First, we looked for snails on the plants in dinoland. Then, I cut back croton to make the entire flowerbeds even in height. Then, I went and watered the pot in Asia that Bridgette had replanted the previous week since she was off which left Judy to take care of the area. After that I met back up with Judy and we pulled pumpkin vine on the front portion of the pollination bed where the guests can see. After that, we went to a meeting which was about the safety tip of the week celebrate safely. To conclude the day, I watered the yard.

Tuesday morning Vanvisa and I worked with the habitat crew. First, we followed them in the truck to the truck entrance of the Kilimanjaro jungle safari. We had to wait for awhile for them to open up the gates. Once inside, we drove through the safari and stopped in various places to trim back plants that were too close to where the ride cars drive through and thus hit people in the face. We also trimmed back some plants that were too tall. However, because it is the jungle safari we want to keep the area natural so plants are not cut back unless absolutely necessary. After trimming the safari, we went with Joel over to Animal Kingdom lodge. While at the lodge, we planted some ginger and watered it in. Then, we did some trimming around the smoking area. After that, we did some trimming in another part of the lodge.

Wednesday morning we were once again with the habitat crew. Again, we had to wait for the gate to be opened. The crew cut back some grass using weed whips and trimmed some low branches off of trees while Vanvisa and I helped to pick up the debris. After that we again went with Joel and did some trimming at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. We also looked at a bed by the parking garage that we would be replacing the following day and decided what plants we were going to put there. We had another short gardener meeting today which reviewed the safety tip of the week celebrate safely. Three of the interns (Mark, Austin, and Stephanie) from Epcot had the opportunity to work with the resident gardeners today. After break, we picked up the plants for the following day.


Thursday morning was another day working with the habitat crew. Again we went into the safari, but this time we were helping Rob and little Judi who were on the high reach above the hippo pool. The habitat crew was there to help spot them as well as took down some low branches. We also helped the crew to pick up the debris. After that, the crew did a quick drive through of the safari. Then, we went with Joel and did some planting of ginger root, some ornamental grass, and azalea by the parking garage. In doing this, we dug out and got rid of the old plants, leveled off the soil, and then planted the new plants. Then, Joel took us back to the yard as Vanvisa and I had to leave a little early to head off to the internship banquet, but first we said goodbye to Jeff our manager as he was going to be gone the following day which was the last day of the internship.

Friday morning I went with habitat crew. First, we planted lemon grass in the tiger exhibits. I helped load and unload the Toro and truck with the lemon grass as well as bring it into the exhibit. Then, we drove through the safari and did some trimming of Acacia which was near the lion exhibit that had been hitting guests. Then, the habitat crew dropped me off where Rob was working so that I could meet up with them to go on the jungle safari which they were doing with the three interns (Eric, Amanda, and Kyle) from Epcot who had the opportunity to work with the resident gardeners at Animal Kingdom today. I left an hour early from work to go to the nursery to get changed, turn in my clothes, turn in my belt, rain coat, and hat as well as turning in my main gate pass, guest passes, as well as my Disney ID. I also filled out a survey about the internship.

Plant of the week:
The plant of the week is lemon grass Cymbopogon citratus. It is a type of ornamental grass in the Poaceae family. The native range is Southern India, Sri Lanka. It grows in zones 10-11 but roots may be hardy to zone 8b. Lemon grass grows to be 2-3' tall and 2-3' wide. Lemon grass rarely flowers. It does best in average, medium, well-drained soils in full sun. Lemon grass tolerates light shade but prefers full sun and tolerates a wide range of soils but is best in organically rich loams with good drainage. Lemon grass can be used as an annual, herb, or in a rain garden. The leafs are fragrant, evergreen. Lemon grass tolerates black walnut and air pollution. While seed is difficult to obtain, nurseries and seed companies generally sell starts in small pots. Fresh stalks of lemongrass with the leaves and roots absent can also be purchased from grocery stores specially in Asian cuisine and can be rooted in a glass of water. Planting should occur in the spring after the last frost date. Stalks can be harvested (cut off top leaves and save 6" sections of the bulbous shoot bases) in fall just before the first frost and frozen for culinary use during the winter. Leaf sections with attached roots can be divided and potted up with top leaves removed for overwintering in a bright window which can be used as starts the following year. Lemon grass is used as a flavoring in Thai, Vietnamese, Laotian, and Cambodian cooking. Extracted plant oils have been used for many years in herbal medicines and perfumes. There are no known serious insect or disease problems however spider mites can be a serious pest on indoor plants. Typical garden uses for ornamental grass is for herb gardens, borders, along walkways or for tubs/containers. Bulbous lower leaf sections are harvested for cooking while tough and inedible sections of mature leaf blades may be used for fresh or dried for flavoring teas, soups, or stews.
Information from: http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=a504

Overall this internship was a great experience. I enjoyed my time in Florida and look forward to the opportunities that my career in horticulture has in store for me.

Week 10: Animal Kingdom

Monday morning Vanvisa and I went into dinosaur land with Bridgette and big Judy (there are two Judy's one is tall and the other is short hence big Judy and little Judi) and looked for snails that were on the plants, picked them off, and threw them on the ground. Then, we helped Bridgette trim for a couple of mad calls in her area. She used the pole pruners while we picked up the debris and put it in in the Toro. After that, we did some trimming by rafiki's planet watch. Around 10am there was a safety meeting until break. After break, we watered the holding area

Tuesday morning we worked with Bridgette. While Bridgette watered, we planted liriope. Then, we went back to the yard to grab bags of cow manure which we then put down in some of the beds to raise the height. Next, we trimmed with Bridgette and once again picked up the debris. After that, Bridgette showed us around Asia pointing out plants such as Chinese top hat, golden dewdrop, crinum lily, and red silk floss tree. Bridgette and Judy came in early so they had break at 9 during which time we pulled pumpkin vine on the back area of the pollinator bed where visitors can't see us. Then, we walked the path behind the tiger exhibit which leads to a bird holding area to see if any trimming needed to be done. Following the walk through we had a short meeting to talk about the safety tip of the week. To end the day, we trimmed bamboo along the tiger path as well as some branches and weeds that were hanging over thus making the path smaller.

Wednesday morning Bridgette and Judy came in early and dug out a white crinum lily. Then, after meeting up with Vanvisa and I we helped them dig a hole and plant the crinum lily. After that, we went with Bridgette and cut back Bohenia over by the Yak and Yeti restaurant. After that, we put down pine nugget bagged mulch under the Bohenia tree and covered it with bamboo leaves to create a more natural look. After that we did some more cutting back of the path behind the tiger exhibit. To end the day Vanvisa and I watered in the holding area.

Thursday morning Bridgette, Vanvisa and I walked Kali River Rapids to see what we needed to trim the next day. Then, we continued working behind the tiger exhibit cutting off branches that were blocking the path and using an edger to cut the roots of Wedelia trilobata Wedelia. Then, we left as today was presentation day. Ten judges (some from Animal Kingdom region, some from the nursery, a landscape architect, a Disney imagineer, and guest judges one of which was from the horticulture department at Seaworld). We were judged on how good our projects were and the judges asked questions applicable to the project and how it might be integrated at Disney. Overall, I think all of the projects were well done and I look forward to getting our grades.

Friday morning the habitat crew trimmed Kali River Rapids below the huge drop using a hedge trimmer while Vanvisa, Bridgette, and I cleaned up the debris. Then, Vanvisa, Bridgette, big Judy and I finished trimming Wedelia trilobata behind the tiger exhibit. The picture to the left is Vanvisa, me, and Judy on the path we have cleared. The entire path was covered with weeds and branches hanging over the path, but is now clear so the bird keepers that need to walk along the path to get to the new building where the birds are housed can easily access it. Finally, we had the opportunity to go on the Kilimenjaro safari with Karen, Cindy, Rob, and a surprise visit from our fellow interns Jordan and Julia. While on the ride, the driver kept telling us about the grasses and trees that needed to be trimmed back for a better view of the animals however we saw no issue trying to see the animals and want to keep the area natural. To end the day, we had the opportunity to get a backstage tour of the elephant holding area as well as see them out on the safari from a backstage viewing area.

Plant of the week: 
The plant of the week is Crinum lily. It is a perennial bulb found in the Amaryllidaceae family. Crinum lily is native to zones 8-10 and grows to be 2-4' tall and 1-3' wide. The bloom time is from July-August with the flower up to 4" wide and long blooming in clusters of color that are white, pink, red and white/red bicolor. Flowers are showy and fragrant. Their light requirement is full sun to part shade. Bulbs like rich, moist, well-drained soils. For zones north of zone 8 crinum lilies can be grown in large containers and brought inside in the winter. When planted in pots/containers they should be at least 2" larger in diameter than the bulbs. The bulb should be planted with the neck exposed. Soil should be kept moist and fertilized regularly during the growing season. After bloom watering should be reduced so that soils dry out between waterings. Containers should be brought inside in the fall before the first frost for overwintering in a cool, dry, frost-free location. Crinum lily can be propagated by bulblets in the spring. Watering should be increased as the plant shows signs of new growth. When crinum lily is grown in the ground year-round as occurs in southern gardens it will spread by rhizomes to form large colonies. Common pests for crinum lilies include mealybugs, nematodes, and occasionally slugs and snails. Bulb rot and leaf scorch are common diseases that affect crinum lily. Typical garden uses for crinum lily includes borders, containers, houseplants, pond or water garden peripheries, as a good accent, and a good cut flower.
Information taken from: http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=a443