Garden Design’s Horticultural Tour of Disneyland

Our magazine’s editor in chief, Thad Orr, and art director, Josh Endres, took a horticultural tour of Disneyland. Endres photographed the experience and chose some of his favorites to share with you. Enjoy!

Taken from an 80-foot crane, this picture captures the way the landscaping ties the park together. Shown here is the courtyard in the center of the roundabout at the end of main street; Sleeping Beauty Castle is in the background.

This photograph of a bridge near Fantasyland was also taken from a crane. “The way tree trunks bend is really cool to me,” Endres says. “I like the way they used them here to provide ambiance for someone strolling through the walkway.”

Hanging gardens are all around the park and decorate Main Street. This photograph was taken around 4:30 a.m. “The horticultural elements plus the lighting from the Crystal Arcade provides a unique combination you don’t typically see outside of a theme park,” Endres says.

“We wanted to get a shot that’s heavy with plants but with a subtle hint that you’re looking at Disneyland,” Endres says. “The Matterhorn in the background provided that.”

This photo was taken near the entrance to Adventureland. “The blast of red juxtaposed against all of the greens and natural complementary colors make for a nice contrast,” Endres says.

The craggy tree in the background can be seen on the Jungle Cruise. “The tree, which is visually set apart from the rest of the landscape, combined with the symmetry of the hippos made for an easy, fun composition,” Endres says.

Endres assures us that the duck escaped unscathed.

“The time the staff takes to carefully consider every detail makes you feel like you’re in another world,” Endres says of this spot along the Jungle Cruise. “I felt like this combination of running water and variety of plants captured that well. The red plants and running water provide a nice complement to the rest of the backdrop.”

“I wanted to be sure to capture the ducks—they’re everywhere in the park,” Endres says. “Their color, combined with the movement of the water, reminded me of liquid metal.”

“On a nostalgic note, it brought back memories of playing Mario 64. You know, when he jumps into a liquid metal-looking pit in one of the worlds,” Endres adds.

“I love the intimacy of this shot,” Endres says of this photo taken in Frontierland. “The interactions of lines and curves of the trees and the splash of color of plants gives it life.”

The landscape surrounding Grizzly River Run exemplifies the thoughtful design that can be seen in all areas of the park.

Here’s a close-up shot taken at Grizzly Peak in California Adventure.

“It’s a classic thing in photography to put whatever you’re photographing—flowers, plants, grasses—against flowing water,” Endres says. “The natural contrast of elements makes it easy for the eye to see one against the other, and each complements each other.”

A close-up of a redwood among ferns in Grizzly Peak in California Adventure. “The distinction between the delicate ferns and the nature of the tree trunk is enhanced by the dappled light throughout the frame,” Endres says.