Epcot Center Showcases Water Gardens

Aquascape Designs and a select group of Certified Aquascape Contractors (CAC) traveled to Walt Disney World’s Epcot Center for the fourth year in a row to showcase water features. The Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival made a statement once again that water features are hot and they’re here to stay by including them in the exhibit.

This year’s task was to build five water features overnight, while the park was closed. The team worked for eight hours straight over night, completing the work in three days. The water features constructed were of varying shapes and sizes. There was a 50-foot Pondless Waterfall fed by a 4500 pump. An 8-foot by 6-foot liner pond, complete with a 2500 UltraKlean pressure filter and a 1500 AquaForce pump was also featured, complete with a 200 gph Ultra pump running into a frog spitter. An 8-foot by 11-foot micro pond kit was constructed, along with a container water garden with ceramic pots and a compass fountain. A 16-foot by 12-foot pond, constructed with two Signature Series 6000 BIOFALLS filters and two 4500 pumps was a highlight of the show.

“We’ve gotten to the point in our relationship with Disney that they basically give us the run of the place,” Aquascape Designs President and CEO Greg Wittstock said. “That’s almost unheard of!”

Aquascape Designs’ Ed Beaulieu, Brian Helfrich, and Tavia Tawney led the crew for this year’s Epcot build. The Certified Aquascape Contractors who pitched in were Cliff “Motel” McCready from Gulf Coast Aquascapes in Pensacola, FL; Mark Carter from Carter’s Nursery, Pond, and Patio, Inc., Jackson, TN; Rich Nichol from Nature Coast Aquascape in Floral City, FL; Gerard Touhey from International Water Features by Gerard from Easton, PA and Ireland; Scott Hammond from Blue Creek Landscape in Ellensburg, WA; Diane Baker from James Ponds in Perkiomenville, PA; Leon Gray from The Natural Touch in Fullerton, CA; Randy Young from Tranquil Waterscape Designs in Franklin, TN; Mike Nickles from Paradise Ponds and Waterfalls in San Angelo, TX; Tim Trammel from Continental Ponds in Yukon, OK; and Mike Skalecki from Pond Professors. Inc. in Janesville, WI.

“We were extremely happy with the results and enjoyed building ponds side by side with our customers,” Beaulieu said. “Being called in to build at Epcot® is one of the highlights of our year!”

Sponsored Content

Gaeta Recycling: Driving efficiency and sustainability with SENNEBOGEN material handlers

Gaeta Recycling, a family-owned business in Paterson, New Jersey, has been a cornerstone of the community since 1935. Led by fifth-generation owner and President Michael Portannese, the company specializes in solid waste and recycling. It manages 30 municipal contracts and handles up to 720 tons of material daily at its transfer station.

Sponsored Content

Gaeta Recycling: Driving efficiency and sustainability with SENNEBOGEN material handlers

Gaeta Recycling, a family-owned business in Paterson, New Jersey, has been a cornerstone of the community since 1935. Led by fifth-generation owner and President Michael Portannese, the company specializes in solid waste and recycling. It manages 30 municipal contracts and handles up to 720 tons of material daily at its transfer station.

Sponsored Content

Gaeta Recycling: Driving efficiency and sustainability with SENNEBOGEN material handlers

Gaeta Recycling, a family-owned business in Paterson, New Jersey, has been a cornerstone of the community since 1935. Led by fifth-generation owner and President Michael Portannese, the company specializes in solid waste and recycling. It manages 30 municipal contracts and handles up to 720 tons of material daily at its transfer station.

Sponsored Content

Gaeta Recycling: Driving efficiency and sustainability with SENNEBOGEN material handlers

Gaeta Recycling, a family-owned business in Paterson, New Jersey, has been a cornerstone of the community since 1935. Led by fifth-generation owner and President Michael Portannese, the company specializes in solid waste and recycling. It manages 30 municipal contracts and handles up to 720 tons of material daily at its transfer station.

Sponsored Content

Gaeta Recycling: Driving efficiency and sustainability with SENNEBOGEN material handlers

Gaeta Recycling, a family-owned business in Paterson, New Jersey, has been a cornerstone of the community since 1935. Led by fifth-generation owner and President Michael Portannese, the company specializes in solid waste and recycling. It manages 30 municipal contracts and handles up to 720 tons of material daily at its transfer station.

Epcot’s International Flower and Garden Festival runs from April 21 to June 11, 2006. For more information on Aquascape Designs’ products and programs, log onto www.aquascapedesigns.com or call 866/877-6637 (US) or 866/766-3426 (CAN).