Book Review: Secrets of Disney's Glorious Gardens

Secrets of Disney's Glorious Gardensby Kevin Markey. pp 144 2006.

With the propagation of the HGTV show, My Yard Goes Disney, I thought it was an appropriate time to look at the 2006 release of the Secret's of Disney's Glorious Gardens. When I first read about this book, I had high hopes; one of my all-time, favorite books is Dee Hansford's the Gardens of the Walt Disney World Resort: A Photographic Tour of the Themed Gardens of the Magic Kingdom, Epcot Center and other Resort Areas (1988). The Gardens of Walt Disney World is a spectacular look at the Walt Disney World Resort from 1988 and offers unparalleled images that have never been captured before or since. But this review is not about this title.

The book offers three, distinct realms: an intro to Disney garden design; a how-to-primer for gardening; and a handful of simple gardening projects that are supposed to bring Disney into your yard. From what I have seen of the My Yard Goes Disney promos, Secrets does not create as bombastic a scene nor does it offer projects that are out-of-reach of the average home owner. In other words, if you are interested in creating a garden that looks like it is from the Magic Kingdom or Epcot, then this book has a lot to offer.

Table of Contents:

• Introduction
• Walt's Idea Blossoms
• Lands of Plenty
• Setting a Mood
• International Flora
• Trade Secrets
• Behind the Scenes

Here is the list of the projects/tips that are provided: entry arbor; creating effective edges; ghostly growth (inspired by the Haunted Mansion); garden container; water works (floating garden); Japanese gardens; portrait plantings (like the Mickey at the entrance to the Magic Kingdom); hanging baskets; sculpture gardens; attracting butterflies; organic pest control; and caring for roses.

How about we let some images do the talking?

This is a perfect book for anyone wanting to make their garden areas more Disney-like, without going overboard or destroying your property values. The projects are simple and the information presented is clear and aimed at the amateur gardener. If you have more gardening experience, you will still find inspiration from the photographs and the generalizations about perfecting that Disney look.