Blooming In Nashville HSMT Magazine - Magazine - Page 28
On the backside of the 昀氀oat sit a pair
of birds, their feathers made of lemon
and orange peels, which were grown
respectively on the Cal Poly campus
in San Luis Obispo and groves on the
Pomona campus.
The students show further innovation
through an assortment of electronic
lighting to show the spark that brings the
robot and story to life.
“We got some LED strips and put them
in tubes that di昀昀use the light,” Goings
said. “We used this throughout the
robot’s body to show how the electricity
is running through it and how it actually is
coming alive besides just the movement
of the robot.”
This scene proved to be more di昀케cult
than previous years’ 昀氀oats, because of
the density of harder-to-acquire tropical
plants; however, the students solved this
by being creative and collaborating with
the community.
The robot was covered in a blend of blue
corn grits, onion seeds and rice accented
with patches of High Magic roses that
portray the robot’s rust in a beautiful
way. Jungle animal fur was brought to
life through bronze chrysanthemums
and cattails, while orange and lemon
peels created vibrant feathers on a pair of
birds (made of lemons grown at Cal Poly
and oranges harvested at the Pomona
campus).
The multigenerational Cal Poly cheering
section stands and cheers “Jungle
Jumpstart” as the banner carriers
announce the Sweepstakes Awardee.
Many in the bleachers assisted in building
and decorating the entry. Cal Poly
students have built 昀氀oats for the Rose
Parade every year since 1949.
Layers of foliage built from overlapping
varieties
of
pothos,
ferns
and
philodendrons formed the dense, lively
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undergrowth. Vibrant heliconias (lobster-claws) and ginger
lilies emerge from this greenery, adding depth and dimension.
Throughout the 昀氀oat, combinations of dry and fresh materials
brought out the textures of the jungle, blending natural vibrancy
with the metallic texture of the robot.
“Jungle Jumpstart” included some Easter eggs: The fallen,
mechanical chest panel of the robot sports the universities’
Rose Float logo. Additionally, on the robot’s leg there’s a CPRF
77 (Cal Poly Rose Float) — to show this is the universities’ 77th
