AZH : Message: RE: [AZH] Tree Form

Lucinda and all,,,,

Like Rob mentioned, quality and expense can be a concern. At the St. Louis Zoo 9 years ago and as the design for River's Edge exhibit was beginning, the zoo began to rethink its strategy and with more exhibits in the works for 4-6 years ahead, we chose to create a 'construction crew'.

The foreman for the crew had the opportunity to have a member from Larson work with him for several months as he taught Van the trade and techniques.

I was also fortunate to take Van and several of his staff to a few state parks to research and photo document rock outcroppings and ledges. From there, I got them in contact with managers of the state parks to request permission to take latex imprints and molds from the existing rocks and stones.

From there they developed and fabricated steel frameworks and gunite concrete application techniques to make our own moats, wall, structures, tree trunks,,, etc,,, in-house. When work was slow or waiting for the general contractor to finish footings, or when it's bad weather, Van and his crew would go inside buildings to create exhibits on existing facilities.

This is probably a more cost effective way of doing business not to mention the ownership and pride the crew must feel when they can stand back and look at what they've created.

I thought I remember, during our conference in North Carolina, Gin saying they did the same,,, in-house design and construction.

Gary.

Gary Wangler, HTR
Horticulturist / Supervisor
Grounds Operations/
Horticulture Therapy
St. Louis Children's Hospital
1 Children's Place
St. Louis, Missoouri 63110

(314) 454-4770

>>> "Rob Halpern" <rob@...> 6/29/2007 11:03 AM >>>

Sad to say, Larson seems to be doing very little of this work these days.

While there are several companies doing artificial trees, I am increasingly convinced that quality of work has more to do with budget than with company. I've seen good and awful from the same companies...but the expensive project got the better trees (and rockwork).

Rob

Zoo Horticulture

Consulting & Design

19 Meadowbrook Drive

Ossining, New York 10562-2910

914.762-6569

FAX 914.945-8915

-----Original Message-----
From: AZH@yahoogroups.co.uk [mailto:AZH@yahoogroups.co.uk]On Behalf Of donita brannon
Sent: Friday, June 29, 2007 11:57 AM
To: AZH@yahoogroups.co.uk
Subject: Re: [AZH] Tree Form

They did the rock work in the Rainforest Pyramid here at Moody Gardens 15 years ago.  I tried contacting them a while back & I believe they have been bought out by another company that now makes natural looking cellular phone towers (?)

Donita Brannon

Lucinda Grover <lgrover@meijergardens.org> wrote:

Hi Everyone,

We are planning on replacing a bamboo trellis in the conservatory with an artificial tree form. The Larson Company has done work for us in the fairly distant past and weve seen some absolutely beautiful stuff at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago using artificial tree/vine/rock work; does anyone have any ideas or recent contacts for this type of work? Any company theyve been pleased to work with?

Thanks in advance,

Lucinda

Lucinda Grover|   Lead Horticulturist

1000 East Beltline Avenue NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49525
PH 616.977.7680   |   TF 888.957.1580   |   FX 616.975.9545
lgrover@meijergardens.org   |   www.meijergardens.org

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