As the world�s �Most Beautiful Theme Park� transforms for its annual Halloween festival, Howl-O-Scream, its foliage and flowers change too. Eileen Weldon, landscape manager for Busch Gardens Williamsburg and Water Country USA, offers tips on creating a garden that provides rich fall color, and sets the tone for Halloween. �The park creates an atmosphere of fright and fun using props and characters, while the landscape team adds the subtle touches that immerse guests in the spirit of Halloween,� said Weldon.

As the bright colors of summer mellow to a warm autumn landscape of gold, scarlet and copper, the landscape team works to set an eerie evening tone and coordinate with the theming of each hamlet.

�In Aquitaine, the theme is vampires, and the decorations feature garlic wreaths and black tulle draped throughout the village. We complement this somber tone with deep purple and maroon chrysanthemums,� Weldon said. During the months of September and October, the park�s landscape team plants more than 4,000 chrysanthemums. The changing foliage of Busch Gardens Williamsburg�s 100 acres entices guests to enjoy the crisp fall weather at the park.

�For lots of fall ambience in a homeowner�s landscape, I recommend adding items representative of harvest season, such as corn stalks, gourds, straw bales and, of course, pumpkins,� added Weldon.

Busch Gardens Williamsburg adds more than 700 bales of straw and 300 bundles of cornstalks from local farms to enhance the autumn ambience. The addition of pumpkins, numbering more than 1,000, give a festive orange hue to the hamlets, especially the Irish village of Killarney, which features a scarecrow and jack-o-lantern theme.

The seasonal changes in decorations and landscaping at Busch Gardens can be adapted to a smaller scale for people interested in creating a fall atmosphere at home.

�One way that home landscapers can plan for fall and Halloween is to add richer colors to their outdoor landscape. Chrysanthemums are easy to care for and complement the changing fall foliage,� said Weldon. Weldon suggests these tips for home landscape and d�cor:

� Fall is the perfect time to plant trees and bushes, such as the burnt orange Japanese maple or yellow ginko, to add yearlong color to landscaping. Red maple varieties like �Autumn Blaze� and �October Glory� are perfect for fall. � Mums, asters and sunflowers bloom in a spectrum of rich colors until the first frost. Any combination of autumn colors including red, gold or purple will add to the ambience of the season � For a twisted take on flowers, try planting a dark variety of flower, such as the �Ace of Spades� scabiosa, the �Claret� sunflower or the �Black Moon� pansy. Add orange pansies or marigolds for a Halloween color scheme. � Garlic bulbs not only keep away vampires, but planting them repels voles that might eat plants. Garlic planted in the fall can be harvested for summer cooking. � Get kids involved in the decorating process. Let them decide pumpkin placement, where to drape sheer black fabric or what to include in a harvest-themed basket. A fun family project is to make a scarecrow from old clothes stuffed with straw. � Add creative details such as gourds and potted mums to entryway paths and porches. A corner or post can be transformed with a harvest scene filled with corn stalks to add height and straw bales to provide a display area for gourds, pumpkins and mums. For general park information and operating hours, guests may call (800) 343-7946 or visit buschgardens.com.

Busch Gardens Williamsburg and Water Country USA are Anheuser-Busch Adventure Parks. Other Anheuser-Busch Adventure Parks include Busch Gardens and Adventure Island in Tampa Bay; SeaWorld Adventure Parks in Orlando, San Diego and San Antonio; Sesame Place, a children�s play park near Philadelphia; and Discovery Cove in Orlando, a family vacation experience featuring interaction with dolphins and other marine animals.

For more than 40 years, the Anheuser-Busch Adventure Parks have demonstrated a commitment to wildlife preservation and education. The SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund allows guests and companies to help support field research, animal rescue, education and habitat conservation.

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Media Contact: Diane Centeno +1 757.253.3369 diane.centeno@buschgardens.com