Sunday, August 24, 2014

Cal Poly Rose Parade Float: Aims to Inspire Learning


This year students from Cal Poly Pomona and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo will celebrate the power of reading and imagination with their 2015 Rose Parade float design.  “Soaring Stories” portrays a fairy tale castle and a mythological griffin emerging from the pages of storybooks.  It reflects the 2015 parade theme, “Inspiring Stories.” 

Some float construction work has already begun on both campuses.  Cal Poly San Luis Obispo students are expected to move their half of the float to Cal Poly Pomona in mid-to-late October. Construction typically continues until right before Christmas. Students and volunteers then spend the week between Christmas and New Year decorating the float with California Grown Flowers. 


"This project is the epitome of Learn by Doing,” said Cal Poly President Jeffrey D. Armstrong in a recent university newsletter.  “It also demonstrates working across disciplines.  There are all types of majors working here, from both campuses. And it brings together the whole Cal Poly community — students, parents, alumni, people who have been involved for years.” 


This year Cal Poly is once again committed to source at least 85 percent of their float décor from California flower farms and be recognized as "California-Grown Certified".  During the last few years this project and the 'Learning by Doing' has expand beyond the campuses. Students and administrators are touring the farms that donate the fresh cut flowers and greens in order to meet the farmers and see where and how the flowers are grown. 


This weekend Resendiz Brothers had the pleasure to host some of the Cal Poly Float Team as well as Amanda Lee the Decoration Chair and their Advisor Greg Lehr.  It was fun getting to know these designers while sharing a little of our 'Flower World' with them.  First off, a stop in the cooler to see what's being harvested - Protea, Banksia, Grevillea, Leucadendron, Eucalyptus and more.






Time for a quick photo and then off to the hills!



Without a trip up into the hills of Rainbow it's difficult to understand how our flowers are grown, the terrain, the climate and the vast layout of the land.



Oh yes, Silver Tree - definitely the first time this group has seen this fabulous foliage outside of a bucket or glued to a float! 



Finally, a quick lesson on growing and propagating Proteaceae.





Our Thanks to Cal Poly Float team for their commitment to learning about and supporting California farms and their flowers!

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