A Newsletter for the Horticulture Division of Walt Disney World

DISNEY COLLECTION DOES NOT CIRCULATE

Vol. 6, No. 6

- T T aT- Ae D: 4

FROM KATY'S DESK

In the past few months, we have all been made keenly aware that we work for a special and unique cCompany--a company that is right now going through some important changes as we head to the future. There have been numerous articles in the Sentinel analyzing WDW from a national, financial vantage point. TV has certainly had its share of coverage as it, too, provided us with insight into the complexities of our corporation and the challenges we face. But where do we in the Horticulture Division fit amidst all this analysis and change?

In fact, we in the Horticulture Division have recently been involved in a number of different studies that have helped us to review, measure and evaluate our operations. We have to ask ourselves questions like, "Are we doing a good job?"; "Are we managing our responsibilities well?" "Are we efficient and cost effective?"; "How important is what we do to the overall success of WDW?" What do you think?

Six months ago, all of us took the WDW Cast Opinion Poll. This is a valuable tool for us. It provided especially valuable information this year since all of us in the Horticulture Division had an opportunity to participate.

I would like to share with you some of the results of the 1983 Cast Opinion Poll. It should not surprise us to know that, in general, the Horticulture Division is a well educated, well motivated group of employees who know that what they do at WDW is very important.

Did you know that...

41% of .all our employees have obtained college degrees.

95% of our employees feel their job is important to WDW.

47% of our employees feel the two things that would help them most in their work are...if they had more to say about how the work is done and there was closer cooperation between departments.

79% of our employees think WDW is managed as well as or better than most companies.

44% of our employees understand that the opportunity for advancement is poor in our Division.

79% of our employees feel the educational reimbursement is a valuable benefit.

72% of our employees have a good or excellent understanding of their own job.

84% of our employees rate the Horticulture Division's training programs as good or

excellent. 83% of our employees feel they get prompt consideration on questions and

suggestions. 75% of our employees feel there is a spirit of teamwork among co-workers.

In addition to the 1983 Cast Opinion Poll, the Horticulture Division has recently assembled many facts and figures for "Operational Appraisals." These are quantitative studies done on each operation at WDW to ensure that what we are doing is efficient and cost effective. To date, presentations on the Pest Control departments, Landscape departments, Tree Farm/Nursery and Horticulture Division Training have all been made to the Vice Presidents of WDW. The Land is scheduled in the near future.

It is good management to review and analyze what we do periodically in order to make good constructive decisions for the future. If you have ideas, please share them with us. And always remember, especially now, that we must continue to work hard to achieve even higher levels of productivity in each of our daily tasks. Keep up the "Good Show"!

A Horticulture Division Publication

EXPERIMENTAL IS THE KEY WORD AIT EPCOT CENTER

EPCOT: Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow. Carrying out the experimental theme of EPCOT Center is exactly what we are doing with French Lilacs, (Syringa vulgaris), at France in World Showcase.

The cultivar, 'Lavender Lady' has been bred for heat resistance in California and is the variety we are using in France. 'Lavender Lady' is one of the Descanso Hybrids which do not require a dormant season in order to flower. With fifty shrubs planted, we hope to achieve a colorful and fragrant show in 2-4 years. If other varieties were planted in Florida, they would produce a third-rate off-season bloom and gradually decline.

Another challenge we face here in Florida is maintaining an alkaline soil condition for the lilacs. We applied lime when the shrubs were Originally planted and plan to monitor the soil pH through regular soil tests.

We have yet to experience any pest problems, however, scale, leaf miner, and downy mildew are occasional problems of lilacs.

So next time you pass our way, come bid bonjour to our newest "cast member", the 'Lavender Lady’.

Susan Griffith and Joe Hennessy Showcase West

Hybrid Tea-

Olympiad

WINNER OF THE WORLD'S HIGHEST ROSE AWARD FOR SUPERIOR QUALITIES SHOWN IN 2 YEARS’ NATIONWIDE TESTING AND JUDGING

OLYMPIAD--THE ROSE OF THE OLYMPICS

Even though our summer started in May this year, June offered the usual expectations. Our weather has been perfect for our annual color program. Marigolds, portulaca, alyssum, geraniums and begonias color the grounds with hues of yellows, whites and reds. Actually, our climate has been more mild than usual. Humidity and winds are less than typical, and other than assisting our landscape, it has made for a more favorable environment for our guests.

With the Olympics just weeks away, our department is hectic with preparations. The "Olympic Roses" are in place, and should make for a very impressive show for this special season.

Ken Inouye, Superintendent DISNEYLAND

TILAPIA AT THE LAND...THE AQUATIC

CHICKEN

The Tilapias, a group of fish in the Cichlidae family, are native to Africa and the Middle East. Evidence from Egyptian tombs, dated 2500 B.C., provides the first indication of Tilapia farming. Today no fish, except probably the common carp, is more widely cultured. Tilapia production in 1983 was estimated at 200,000 metric tons, with four Asian countries (Thailand, Taiwan, Indonesia, and The Philippines) accounting for 90% of that total.

Tilapia may well be the "perfect fish" for aquaculture. As a group they are hardy, disease resistant, lend themselves to culture in very high densities, and exhibit feed conversion ratios that approach l:l (l pound of feed yielding | pound of fish). Many species respond well to hybridization, with some crosses producing vigorous, all male offspring (desirable because males grow faster and larger than females).

At The Land we are raising Tilapia aurea; the blue tilapia. This species is more tolerant of cooler waters and is frequently encountered in the lakes of central and southern Florida. Our first Tilapia harvest was concluded in April, with a total of 1656 kilograms delivered to the Good Turn Restaurant. Guest reaction was excellent, with rave reviews for the sweet, delicately flavored flesh.

Mike Andrew Aquaculturist

A SEAR BULL OF GREENERY

If you happened to visit the Magic Kingdom at the end of May or the beginning of June, you probably noticed a strange metamorphosis taking place with our turf. It is the time of year again for a job known by many but loved by few--verticutting. Verticutting is the process of vertically cutting and, therefore, thinning, our Bermuda and Zoysia. By removing accumulated thatch and rejuvenating the rhizome growth we Can maintain the manicured look our guests so often question as being real turf.

While mounds of thatch began to accumulate in the Transpo Mall, Ed, Laura, Steve and Guillermo wiped their brows and just chuckled to such guest comments as "You'd think they'd use a grass catcher when they mow."

Several pieces of equipment were borrowed from the Golf Resort this year as labor saving devices in larger open areas where we had room to manuever. Herb and Jane agree that with Dewey running the Mott mower and with Dennis driving a tractor driven aerator the job was completed in no time. Now Larry and Mike are trying to devise an easier way to scalp and Keith has proof positive that the riding sweeper is the only way to go when collecting thatch.

Contrary to popular rumor, the white sand top dressing was not used for special effects to make it look like snow in the Kingdom, nor has the Victorian theme of the Hub gone to Polynesian sand beaches. With a final application of fertilizer we are ready to grow and, by George, it has only been 10 days, and I: think it is time to mow again. That's turf bizz!

Gerry Braun, Supervisor Magic Kingdom

DRIPPING WITH SUCCESS

Water conservation and efficiency are just a few of the reasons why tree farms and nurseries around the world have turned in the direction of Drip Irrigation.

A drip system consists primarily of a water source converted to poly-pipe, a filter, a pressure reducer, and a choice of many different emitters.

Here at the WALT DISNEY WORLD Nursery, we are using two different types of drip systems. One is a lead-weight tube, where the tube is inserted into the poly-pipe and then the lead-weight lays in the container. We use this type on the Cascade mum benches and on many of our container grown herbs. The system on the mum cascades distributes water and fertilizer to each container 3 minutes per day at the rate of AO KPM,

The other type of system uses spray emitters. These are used in our standard area and box areas. Depending on the G.P.M. rating of the emitter, these will easily soak containers from | gallon size to 48" boxes. These emitters prove very effective because of their low maintenance and their ability to water the soil without wetting the foliage.

In the future, we will be looking at drip irrigation more and more as we work to improve and upgrade our systems at the Nursery.

Bill Whitaker Tree Farm

TEN YEARS OF SERVICE

Seven Horticulture cast members will be honored at the 1984 Distinguished Service Awards Banquet Wednesday, July Il, 1984. They are: Charles Dowdell (756), Hank Hendrickson (753), Sanford Mace (88A), Irus Michel (753), Debbie Rhymer (87B), Charles Robinson (756), and Joe Sauter III (87B). Congratulations for your contributions to our Horticulture show.

THE HONEYBEE

The honeybee is certainly a most important insect to mankind due to the products it furnishes. Its most important function, however, is in the cross pollination of plants. |

Beekeeping (apiculture) had its beginning with the early Egyptians, over 2000 years ago. Since that time the practice of bee culture has evolved into a highly complex field of endeavor. In addition to honey sales, honeybees are reared for package sales and the sale of queens is a great source of revenue for some specialists. Many farmers rent bees simply for pollination of their Crops.

Here at WALT DISNEY WORLD bees are not entirely beneficial to our show. In some instances they become serious pests. Such instances are expected to increase after last winter's adverse conditions.

Pest Control initiates control measures for honeybees only in the most extreme cases where the safety of our guests is threatened.

Problems in most cases are handled by commercial apiculturists who capture the swarms and relocate them. Any employee encountering a swarm of honeybees should call Pest Control immediately.

Don Entzminger, Supervisor Structural Pest Control

BOB CENTER RETIRES

Bob Center is retiring from 13 years of service in Pest Control. He plans to pursue his hobbies like lounging in his new pool, developing his photographic skills, and making movies with his new video camera. Congratulations and best wishes.

Editor: Mark Krause

the oe od As the weather warms, Pest Control Operators and Gardeners alike should be on the lookout for the cottonwood leaf beetle, (Chrysomela scripta). This beetle is a very common problem at WALT DISNEY WORLD on our many poplar and willow trees.

Trees of the Salix and Populus families are heavily attacked by this small one-quarter inch, black and gold beetle. It feeds mainly on the leaves of trees but the succulent bark from seedlings may also be attacked.

Adult beetles overwinter in bark or under forest litter. In the springtime, the adults become active and fly to a host tree to feed. Yellow eggs are laid in clusters of about twenty-five on the underside of leaves. In two weeks, larva hatch

‘and begin feeding immediately. The larva

continue to eat for two weeks, until they become full size and develop into pupa, which hang head down from the underside of leaves. In another two weeks, the adults emerge and the cycle is repeated. Several generations occur per year.

Because of the many generations and their huge appetite, it is important to get quick control of this beetle. There are several insecticides which give good results.

Gary Crossley, Supervisor Horticultural Pest Control

Be ir

CLERK'S CORNER |

Fran Perkins, Department Clerk-Typist for Structural Pest Control under Walt Pillows is developing her computer skills on the UTS 400 terminal in the Horticulture Training Office. The item tracking system maintains records on all the chemicals used by Pest Control.

Typist: Deani Pendley