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The
terrestrial inflorescence of Etlingera megalocheilos in Gunung Gading,
Sarawak, Malaysia. |
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.
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.
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Medinilla
speciosa from the
slopes of Mt. Kinabalu
Click to Enlarge |
My work in
tropical integrated pest management, mosquito larvae control 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.
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.
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A native Capparis species orginially collected near St.Katherine's
Monastery in the Sinai now growing in the Peace Garden at Sharm El
Sheikh,
Sinai, Egypt.
Click To Enlarge |
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
The Earth Fig, Ficus uncinata var. strigosa is a geocarpic fig that
produces fruit on long runners on the ground. Photographed in Kinabalu
Park, Sabah, Malaysia.
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This parasitic plant, Rafflesia pricei is one of the largest flowers
in the world. This photo was taken at Poring Hot Springs on the
east side of Mt. Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.
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Gustavia superba photographed at Rimba Ilmu Botanic Garden on the
campus of University of Malaya in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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The
Pitcher plant Nepenthes ampullaria from Bako, Sarawak, Malaysia |
The
epiphytic bromeliad Guzmania lingulata near the crater
of Volcan Mombacho, Nicaragua |
Centropogon
gutierrezii from the slopes of Volcan Poas,
Costa Rica. |
Pitcairnia corallina var. corallina originated from Choco,
Colombia.
The inflorescence of this primitive bromeliad
is peculiar in it's
habit of running on the forest floor.
Click To Enlarge |
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