Watching the Rose Parade on New Year’s Day.
It’s tradition for the millions who camp out on Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena, Calif., or simply fix their eyes on television sets around the country.
But for one of the biggest manufacturing labels in the green industry, there’s more to the holiday parade than watching colorful floats sail by on the big screen.
Rain Bird Corp., one of the largest creators of sprinkler and drip irrigation equipment, was a visible part of the popular 2003 parade. Showing off its float titled “Water Wonderland,” the manufacturer made its fifth appearance in the event.
“It has become an annual tradition for me to mark New Year’s Day riding down Colorado Boulevard on Rain Bird’s float,” says Jack Hanna, director emeritus of the Columbus Zoo and host of Jack Hanna’s Animal Adventures, who will be aboard for his fifth year. “I can’t think of a better way to spread New Year’s wishes – and important environmental messages to a worldwide audience.”
Hanna will be joined by two-time float rider Walter Crawford, Jr., founder and executive director of the World Bird Sanctuary. Both riders bring Rain Bird’s key message of wildlife and environmental conservation to the 2003 Rose Parade.
The company’s float, which salutes the precious resource of water, sticks with the parade’s theme, “Children’s Dreams, Wishes and Imagination.” It depicts a colorful array of African animals gathered at a drinking hole and a family of elephants playing together. Baby zebras and native birds, set against an impressive waterfall.
“Water Wonderland underlines Rain Bird’s commitment to water conservation and its concern for endangered species and the habitats in which they live throughout the world,” explains Rain Bird Senior Vice President Art Ludwick. “The animals depicted on our 2003 float entry are all intelligent species and realize the vale of water, and the role it plays in their lives. As part of the world’s environment, we need to use water intelligently to ensure that these magnificent specimens are available for future generations to enjoy.”
Rain Bird’s float was designed and flowered by the award-winning team of Raul Rodriguez and floral director Jim Hynd. The 55-foot long, 36-foot high float’s five cascading waterfalls and 24 high-pressure misting nozzles – supplied by Rain Bird – will use a total of 1,500 gallons of recycled water. Complex hydraulics will be used to make the animals move realistically, even spraying water through the trunks of five elephants.
The author is Assistant Editor – Internet for Lawn & Landscape magazine and can be reached at aanderson@lawnandlandscape.com.