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Tropical
Sustainable Landscapes - ASLA 2006 Annual Meeting & 43rd IFLA World
Congress
Click above to view powerpoint
Successful
Mosquito Control and IPM at a Zoological Theme Park
Click above to view pdf
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A
grove of Phoenix dactylifera, the edible date palm, photographed in
Orman Botanic Garden, Giza, Egypt.
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to Enlarge |
The Tropical
Designs of Florida website features tropical horticulture, hurricane horticulture,
and tropical arboriculture. Topics from Tropical Plants and Tropical Animals to Integrated
Pest Management and Composting are discussed.
There is a section on Theme Parks which focuses
on sustainable and eco-efficient site and exhibit design, and another
on Hurricane & Typhoon Tree Recovery which presents some of the methods that I have utilized to recover wind-thrown
trees or to stabilize and protect trees from storms. The Plants
of Malaysia & Borneo is a favorite
topic of mine that I hope provides a glimpse into the natural history
of this fascinating part of the world.
My articles
and opinions are derived from 35 years of hands-on experience in the field
of tropical horticulture. In 1976 I began employment at Parrot Jungle
as assistant to the Chief Horticulturist. I became Director of Horticulture
and Facilities Manager in 1988. In 2003, a new 18 acre park called Parrot
Jungle Island was built from the ground up in the City of Miami (the original
site of Parrot Jungle was closed). I was the landscape designer and responsible
for the installation of all plant and tree material. The name of this
zoological park was changed to Jungle Island in June 2007, the fourth
anniversary of this park. Presently, I am Director of Horticulture and
a Vice President of Jungle Island.
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A
female inflorescence of Aechmea mariae-reginae, one of the few dioecious
bromeliads. I collected the ancestor of this plant near Puerto Viejo
de Sarapiqui, Costa Rica in 1976.
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I am a Municipal
Arborist (FL-1052AM) certified
by the International Society of Arboriculture. This certification
shows additional experience in the specialty area of urban trees and a
thorough knowledge of establishing and maintaining trees in a community.
Much of my consulting work consists of site tree surveys to determine
the condition of extant trees. I have also given expert testimony for
tree and other tropical horticulture issues.
My work in tropical integrated pest management and sustainable landscape
development has been shown to be cost effective and eco-efficient. I have
consulted with architects, owners and developers on new landscape developments,
as well as existing sites, to create sustainable and cost effective landscapes.
I am an active
member of the Society
of Municipal Arborists and the Association
of Zoological Horticulture. My membership on the City of Miami
Green Commission for Urban Tree Development has allowed me to participate
in the development of a new tree ordinance.
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Calliandra
surinamensis is found in the Guianas region of northern South American.
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Tropical
Designs of Florida is a member of the US Environmental Protection Agency's GreenScapes
Alliance . This alliance is designed to help preserve natural resources
and prevent waste and pollution by encouraging companies, government agencies,
and other entities to make more holistic decisions regarding waste generation,
disposal and the use of the land, water, pesticides, and energy. I wrote
and am now implementing the 2007 five year strategic plan for Jungle Island's
(formerly Parrot Jungle Island) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's
program for the Pesticide
Environmental Stewardship Program.
All of the
photos on this site are my own unless otherwise indicated. The great majority
of them were taken in situ during my travels. I have a substantial database
of tropical plant and animal photos. These are available for purchase.
Finally,
I hope that you will find my website informative and perhaps even a bit
educational. Comments and suggestions are encouraged,
corrections are always appreciated.
Regards,
Jeff Shimonski
Triplaris
sp. in bloom. Triplaris cumingiana is native to Northern
South America.
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The
hummingbird pollinated bromeliad, Werauhia ororiensis from the slopes
of Volcan Poas, Costa Rica.
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The ginger Etlingera fimbriobracteata
in Mulu, Sarawak, Malaysia
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to Enlarge |
An Impatiens species from the summit
of Gunung Api 1700m in Mulu, Sarawak, Malaysia
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to Enlarge |
The
pendant inflorescence of Heliconia collinsiana
at the base of Volcan Mombacho, Nicaragua.
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to Enlarge |
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