That is a statue of (Archangel) Saint Michael Slaying the Demon. This use to be in the middle of the town square HERE. There also use to be an AB plaque explaining the statue.
Shrubbery (Park Landscaping)
- Thread starter chickenking
- Start date
Yeah, I know. When they first moved it, I was like OMG the statue's gone! What is the world coming to?!
Also just a note, the park added LED flood lights to light up the tree, CK 
The Evolution of Shrubbery at BGW Part 1: Banbury Cross
Banbury Cross is Busch Garden's Williamsburg's signature opening hamlet. Throughout its lifetime it has represented a Victorian style era, until this year when the hamlet underwent highly disputed, and controversial changes to conform with the new live show in the Globe, London Rocks. Despite the high amount of changes in Banbury lately, not much has changed in terms of Shrubbery. However, there have been a couple changes.
This is a picture of the old cotton candy stand that this year was removed to make way for Union Snacks. With the addition of Union Snacks, came a flower bed on the side facing the Emporium. Here's what that flower bed looks like today:
This is a picture of the height check kiosks where you can measure your kids before going up to a ride entrance. Since 2009, these kiosks have been moved to the other side of the pathway beside the Felt and Feather gift shop. Today, there is a flower bed in this area, here's what it looks like:
That concludes the first post of The Evolution of Shrubbery. What are your thoughts on these changes?
Banbury Cross is Busch Garden's Williamsburg's signature opening hamlet. Throughout its lifetime it has represented a Victorian style era, until this year when the hamlet underwent highly disputed, and controversial changes to conform with the new live show in the Globe, London Rocks. Despite the high amount of changes in Banbury lately, not much has changed in terms of Shrubbery. However, there have been a couple changes.
This is a picture of the old cotton candy stand that this year was removed to make way for Union Snacks. With the addition of Union Snacks, came a flower bed on the side facing the Emporium. Here's what that flower bed looks like today:
This is a picture of the height check kiosks where you can measure your kids before going up to a ride entrance. Since 2009, these kiosks have been moved to the other side of the pathway beside the Felt and Feather gift shop. Today, there is a flower bed in this area, here's what it looks like:
That concludes the first post of The Evolution of Shrubbery. What are your thoughts on these changes?
The Evolution of Shrubbery at BGW Part 2: Entrance Area
One thing Busch Gardens Willamsburg is known for is its unique Entrance area. Most parks just have a main plaza coming directly from the parking lot where the entrance kiosks are, sometimes not even that. Busch Gardens Willamsburg has a large entrance area that sets the tone for the day to come. A long main pathway that comes from the tram stops all the way to the entrance kiosks, with many flower beds, countless trees, and a waterfall feature. It truly is beautiful and serene. With it being an entrance area, it changes constantly, almost every year you'll be able to go through and notice something different from last year. This includes shrubbery in the hamlet. Now, let's get right to those changes, buckle yourself in, this is going to be a long one.
This view has changed quite dramatically. This is facing the sidewalk that leads to the France parking lot, and is beside the tram stop. Everything to the right of the sidewalk in this picture has been removed and filled in with aggregate. I assume this is to give the tram stop more room, and after the crowd I saw there today, the room is definitely needed. And somewhere in the process of this, the tree to the far left also got removed. However, a flower bed has been added in that area that still remains. Here's what this view looks like today:
This view has also changed dramatically. All the trees in this picture were removed in the 2009-2010 off season, but have been replaced with fewer trees. However, in my opinion the set-up today looks a lot more organized per se, and has 4 flower pots around each tree which is always a plus. Here's what this view looks like today:
As we all should know, this view has also changed dramatically. Most of the Shrubbery(not much at that) in this view has been removed. However, it has been replaced with a lot more shrubbery, and a waterfall. This change occurred over the 2012-2013 off-season. Here's what this view looks like today:
Ah, yes, the nicely trimmed ivy that used to grow on the ticket booths. As we should know, this ivy has ceased to exist. On the backside of the ticket booths the ivy has been replaced with evergreens, but on the front-side, it has been replaced with nothing. This change occurred during the 2009-2010 off-season. This is what the front of the toll-booths look like today, without the ivy:
You see those two trees behind the tram stop, and the flower bed with the trees in it behind them? Well, yeah, both of those have been removed, and sadly replaced with nothing. I believe this also had something to do with tram-stop traffic, but it is a loss none the less. This change occurred during the 2009-2010 off-season. Here's what this view looks like today:
If you have visited the park this year, you would know a lot has changed in this image. During the most current 2013-2014 off-season a bill-board and trellis were put up here to advertised Colossal Curl. However, with this, a new flower bed did come, but I'm assuming the trees in this picture that were in the way of the bill-board, have been removed. Here's what this area looks like today:
Why am I putting this view up here? Well, if any of you have visited the park in the past few years, you would know this is where the Stroller, Wheelchair, and Scooter rentals building is. All the trees here have been removed to make way for this building. This change occurred over the 2009-2010 off-season. Here's what it currently looks like:
This flower bed beside the Waves of honor ticket booth has been removed. However, a larger flower bed takes it's place, which is now over this spot, and extends all the way down to Guest Relations, where there weren't flowers before. So overall this removal was more like an upgrade. I do not know when this change was made. Here's what it looks like today:
That concludes Part Two of The Evolution of Shrubbery at BGW! Any thoughts on these changes?
One thing Busch Gardens Willamsburg is known for is its unique Entrance area. Most parks just have a main plaza coming directly from the parking lot where the entrance kiosks are, sometimes not even that. Busch Gardens Willamsburg has a large entrance area that sets the tone for the day to come. A long main pathway that comes from the tram stops all the way to the entrance kiosks, with many flower beds, countless trees, and a waterfall feature. It truly is beautiful and serene. With it being an entrance area, it changes constantly, almost every year you'll be able to go through and notice something different from last year. This includes shrubbery in the hamlet. Now, let's get right to those changes, buckle yourself in, this is going to be a long one.
This view has changed quite dramatically. This is facing the sidewalk that leads to the France parking lot, and is beside the tram stop. Everything to the right of the sidewalk in this picture has been removed and filled in with aggregate. I assume this is to give the tram stop more room, and after the crowd I saw there today, the room is definitely needed. And somewhere in the process of this, the tree to the far left also got removed. However, a flower bed has been added in that area that still remains. Here's what this view looks like today:
This view has also changed dramatically. All the trees in this picture were removed in the 2009-2010 off season, but have been replaced with fewer trees. However, in my opinion the set-up today looks a lot more organized per se, and has 4 flower pots around each tree which is always a plus. Here's what this view looks like today:
As we all should know, this view has also changed dramatically. Most of the Shrubbery(not much at that) in this view has been removed. However, it has been replaced with a lot more shrubbery, and a waterfall. This change occurred over the 2012-2013 off-season. Here's what this view looks like today:
Ah, yes, the nicely trimmed ivy that used to grow on the ticket booths. As we should know, this ivy has ceased to exist. On the backside of the ticket booths the ivy has been replaced with evergreens, but on the front-side, it has been replaced with nothing. This change occurred during the 2009-2010 off-season. This is what the front of the toll-booths look like today, without the ivy:
You see those two trees behind the tram stop, and the flower bed with the trees in it behind them? Well, yeah, both of those have been removed, and sadly replaced with nothing. I believe this also had something to do with tram-stop traffic, but it is a loss none the less. This change occurred during the 2009-2010 off-season. Here's what this view looks like today:
If you have visited the park this year, you would know a lot has changed in this image. During the most current 2013-2014 off-season a bill-board and trellis were put up here to advertised Colossal Curl. However, with this, a new flower bed did come, but I'm assuming the trees in this picture that were in the way of the bill-board, have been removed. Here's what this area looks like today:
Why am I putting this view up here? Well, if any of you have visited the park in the past few years, you would know this is where the Stroller, Wheelchair, and Scooter rentals building is. All the trees here have been removed to make way for this building. This change occurred over the 2009-2010 off-season. Here's what it currently looks like:
This flower bed beside the Waves of honor ticket booth has been removed. However, a larger flower bed takes it's place, which is now over this spot, and extends all the way down to Guest Relations, where there weren't flowers before. So overall this removal was more like an upgrade. I do not know when this change was made. Here's what it looks like today:
That concludes Part Two of The Evolution of Shrubbery at BGW! Any thoughts on these changes?
The Evolution of Shrubbery at BGW Part 3: Festa Italia
I can guarantee you the first thing you think of when you think about Festa Italia is definitely not Shrubbery. Festa Italia definitely does not have a reputation for its shrubbery. It definitely doesn't have the most shrubbery, but none the less, it still has some. With that being said, the existing shrubbery in this area of the park has more or less changed only in minor ways.
Let's kick it off with our first change. When you've passed the three-point challenge, and are on your way towards the backside of Festa, you will notice two landscape islands. This screen-shot from 2009 shows those islands with small trees in them. However, due to Holiday Hills decorations, these two trees were removed. Now the two islands have temporary flowers, and a small evergreen planted in them when it is not used for decorations during Christmas Town. Here's what one of these landscape islands look like today:
This flower-bed used to reside near the exit of Apollo's Chariot. Sadly, over the years it was removed and replaced with ugly, half-dead looking bushes, as seen in this picture:
The grass type plants around this tree have been removed in place for Flower Pots, as seen in this picture:
The Island with the tree in it in this picture has also had flower pots placed around it. Here's what it looks like today:
Overall, the changes in Festa have been minor for the most part. We see again here, that the park seems to have it out for trees, however they are getting replaced with flowers, so you decide which one you'd rather have. However, hopefully with the renovations in Festa next year the park will also improve its landscaping aspect, giving it a new found beauty.
That concludes Part 3! Don't be afraid to share your thoughts on these changes.
I can guarantee you the first thing you think of when you think about Festa Italia is definitely not Shrubbery. Festa Italia definitely does not have a reputation for its shrubbery. It definitely doesn't have the most shrubbery, but none the less, it still has some. With that being said, the existing shrubbery in this area of the park has more or less changed only in minor ways.
Let's kick it off with our first change. When you've passed the three-point challenge, and are on your way towards the backside of Festa, you will notice two landscape islands. This screen-shot from 2009 shows those islands with small trees in them. However, due to Holiday Hills decorations, these two trees were removed. Now the two islands have temporary flowers, and a small evergreen planted in them when it is not used for decorations during Christmas Town. Here's what one of these landscape islands look like today:
This flower-bed used to reside near the exit of Apollo's Chariot. Sadly, over the years it was removed and replaced with ugly, half-dead looking bushes, as seen in this picture:
The grass type plants around this tree have been removed in place for Flower Pots, as seen in this picture:
The Island with the tree in it in this picture has also had flower pots placed around it. Here's what it looks like today:
Overall, the changes in Festa have been minor for the most part. We see again here, that the park seems to have it out for trees, however they are getting replaced with flowers, so you decide which one you'd rather have. However, hopefully with the renovations in Festa next year the park will also improve its landscaping aspect, giving it a new found beauty.
That concludes Part 3! Don't be afraid to share your thoughts on these changes.
^ thanks for the pictures & information, Matthew. I just can't imagine removing a nice little tree to make way for Christmas decorations.
The tree doesn't look as beautiful as the flowers that are there now. They help give Festa the bight colors it desperately needs.
^But festa has a dire need for trees, especially with the new coaster coming!
No, trees don't look as beautiful as flowers in this aspect. But, trees provide shade which is equally as beautiful as flowers on a hot day.Party Rocker said:
I'd actually prefer flowers because, while yes, the trees did provide shade, there's a huge shade structure right beside them with benches and seats. And those aren't really trees, they're actually a type of shrub that grows tall. I bet when they were first planted they didn't look anything like a tree.
Trees and flowers should live together in peace and harmony!
They are Crape Myrtles and they are not a species of shrubbery. They are one of the fastest growing 'trees' on the planet.Matthew said:
Trees should hunt down and kill flowers. They should band together for all Tree brotherhood and stamp out the menence that are flowers. Look at them... just sitting there... all... colorful and flowery... They are up to no good.
UP WITH THE TREES! DOWN WITH THE FLOWERS! UP WITH THE TREES! DOWN WITH THE FLOWERS! UP WITH THE TREES! DOWN WITH THE FLOWERS! UP WITH THE TREES! DOWN WITH THE FLOWERS! UP WITH THE TREES! DOWN WITH THE FLOWERS!
UP WITH THE TREES! DOWN WITH THE FLOWERS! UP WITH THE TREES! DOWN WITH THE FLOWERS! UP WITH THE TREES! DOWN WITH THE FLOWERS! UP WITH THE TREES! DOWN WITH THE FLOWERS! UP WITH THE TREES! DOWN WITH THE FLOWERS!
