Four Seasons Resort Orlando Celebrated Earth Day with a New Specialty Herb Garden and Beehives
Resort appoints landscape horticulturis to maintain and enhance the 26-acre (10.5 hectare) grounds
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As Earth Day approached on April 22nd, 2024, the Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort reinforced the Resort’s commitment to environmental stewardship with the introduction of several new initiatives. In addition, the Resort highlights its golf course certification as an Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary, showcasing its dedication to preserving natural habitats, and announced a recently appointed dedicated landscape horticulturist.
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New Herb Garden at Ravello
The Il Giardino Della Riviera Italiana is a new organic Italian Riviera-style herb garden located on Ravello restaurant’s al fresco terrace. The herb garden boasts a variety of aromatic herbs, including basil, rosemary, thyme, mint, marjoram, and sage. The fresh herbs will be incorporated into Ravello’s modern Italian recipes, enhancing the Resort's culinary offerings while promoting sustainability through local sourcing. “I am very excited for our team to begin using these fresh herbs grown on-site in many of our dishes,” notes Executive Chef Fabrizio Schenardi.
Intentional Landscape Architecture and Oversight
Four Seasons Resort Orlando has appointed Mark Russell as their Landscape Horticulturist. Russell brings a wealth of experience, including his prior role as leader of sustainability initiatives at Cherrylake Inc., where he was responsible for designing, installing, and maintaining gardens using native Florida plants and flora. His expertise will be instrumental in implementing and maintaining sustainable landscaping practices throughout the Resort. “It's an honor to be part of an organization that loves and cares so much about our planet, and I’m grateful to work with a wide range of Florida native plants that support and revive our ecosystems,” says Russell.
Russell’s fervent dedication to environmental sustainability drove him to pursue certification as an arborist and horticultural professional, and to specialize in tree risk assessment. His extensive knowledge of trees and plants is a true asset to Four Seasons, as the Resort boasts 114 different plant species on the property and more than 1,140 trees in addition to its 927 palms and 72,000 shrubs/ground covers. The abundant landscaping adds to the environment and provides a wonderful setting for native wildlife.
BEEKEEPING PROGRAM
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The Four Seasons Resort Orlando has also launched a new beekeeping program. Four beehives have been installed in a dedicated area of land near the golf course grounds, with the aim of bolstering bee populations to support local ecosystems. Through nurturing their growth with nectar plants native to Central Florida, such as the saw palmetto, the Resort team hopes to achieve a bountiful harvest of honey.
"Our focus on sustainability reflects our commitment to making a positive impact on the environment,” says Adrien Harel, Resort Manager at the Four Seasons Resort Orlando. “Through initiatives such as our herb garden and beekeeping program, we aim to not only enhance the guest experience, but to also promote biodiversity and conservation efforts."
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