Disneyland plants!

 So I wasn't able to take as many pictures as I wanted since it was 92° and about 76% humidity by midday and did not want to stop very much unless there was a breeze and shade.

Let's start with the walk in. Normally there would be a tram from the parking structure to the entrance but this being still mostly lock down they weren't running. Lonnnng walk but was able to see a lot of the plantings. Given it is Southern CA and we have a water shortage every year they go with low water/drought tolerant plants as much as possible.

Lion's Tail in the background, Lemon Scented Eucalyptus trees and I have forgotten what the light green plants are. They are not aloes, nor New Zealand Flax, closer related to agave. Succulents everywhere and the dark green grass spike plants are Mexican Grass Trees I believe. The grey green bush on the far right is an opuntia of some sort.

This area is usually a roadway only so having plants that are tough and yet still pretty is what they were going for. The entire lane behind us was lined with Eucalyptus of two kinds and provided some shade. Rocks of course need no maintenance and adds interest to the landscaping.

More daylight shot (my sweetie looking fine)

Gardenia Thunbergia

I took a picture of the gardenia tree growing at Walter Andersen's and was shocked and very pleased to see that they had planted some along the street here. This is outside the Main Street City Hall (where you get information and lost parents). Pentas are planted underneath it and as I said some beds are seasonal to always be in color. If I get a chance to go in the winter/Fall it will be different flowers underneath.

Kalanchoe baharensis

 

One of the things succulents are good for is looking wierd/futuristic/fantasy. Normally the tree has more leaves on it but you can see they've got it trimmed up and looks rather other worldly in Tomorrorwland. Star Tours is to the right of that where the umbrella is standing. Again, to save water and maintenance they put in a lot of succulents.

Pond side planting

I am trying to remember what the tree is on the far right, thinking that one in the foreground on the right was a pecan but they wouldn't put one near a pond. Doing some searches since the name was escaping, it is a Chinese Pistache. Ornamental Pistachio and the leaves change color in the fall. Possibly a Montezuma Cypress behind it or another one that I can't remember. In the foreground are Indian Hawthorn, and another drought tolerant plant and Texas Sage 'Silver Cloud'. My tree and plant ID skills are woefully degrading lately and I'm rather frustrated by it.

'Pet Cemetery' Planting

This is a lovely example of taking plants with meanings and interest to put into a themed garden. There's Lamb's Ears in the back, 'Carpet Bugle' in Mahogany in front of that, the reddish plant in front of the statue is another dark leaved variety of Heuchura 'Palace Purple' and Black Mondo Grass in front, but can you see what they did? Darker plants toward the front and lighter to the back. Darker colors because it's a cemetery and it's Haunted Mansion but also it gives depth to the small bed. They really go all out in the fall/winter when Nightmare Before Christmas theme get set. Those plantings look fairly new so I'd say those are set for the upcoming season.

Fruiting Pomegranate, Tomorrowland

 

One thing that is consistent now with Tomorrowland around the restaurant is putting in edible plants. I didn't get a chance to take a picture of the planting toward the entrance which had lettuces and other plants in an ornamental arrangement. This is one of three fruiting pomegranates at the edges of the patio area. Judging from the size of the trunk and my memory, those have been there for at least a dozen years if not more. If they are still there, around the corner toward Buzz Lightyears Blasters is a small grove of citrus trees. Again, too many people, too hot and will get pictures another time. Leave it to say it's one of my favorite landscaping areas. They even had tomatoes growing in one of the beds years ago!

Another seasonal planting

This is the planting around the central hub in front of the castle with the statue of Walt and Mickey. My all time favorite spot in the park. Pentas, salvia of various types framed in a boxwood hedge. Pink and purple theme as you can see. Short in front, tall in back with a small strip of grass between the railing where I was standing and the planting.

When you have a park this big and an army of people tending to just the landscaping and have to put costs and conservation at the top, low water is the way to go. You can have a lost maintenance and beautiful flowering garden without using a lot of water either. They try to use as few deciduous trees as possible for maintenance on the main walkways so it doesn't look messy. The one tree I didn't get a picture of is a wonderfully majestic Montezuma Cypress behind Thunder Mountain. There was also a Curly Willow that you don't see planted much. It's typically used for the twisted branches in floral arrangements.

Curly Willow

I had a blast and was very tired at the end of the day. I was there with my sweetie for his birthday so I didn't want to take up time getting pictures of plants. I have a few more pictures but will leave that for another post.