Solar flowers are set to bloom at Prudential Plaza

By Chris Reidy, Globe Staff

Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc. said it has installed giant "solar flowers" in Boston's Prudential Plaza as part of an exhibit designed to promote the 2010 model of the Toyota Prius, the company's hybrid model.

The flower sculptures, which reach up to 18 feet high, "are partially powered by solar panels on the back of their petals and the base of their stems," Toyota said in a press release. "Each of the five Solar Flowers provides seating for up to 10 people, access to free WiFi service, and power to charge cell phones and laptops."

The image of a solar flower that tops this post was provided by Toyota.

Daily hours of operation are 8 a.m. through 9 p.m., and the exhibit is scheduled to run in Boston from today through July 19 before it moves on to such cities as New York, Chicago, and Seattle, Toyota said.

The theme of the exhibit is, "Harmony Between Man, Nature, and Machine," and it is part of a marketing campaign that seeks to emphasize "the balance the Prius helps strike between the needs of man and nature," Toyota said.

The press release also said: "Boston bus riders also will discover solar ventilation bus shelters spread throughout the downtown area as another part of the "Harmony Installation" campaign. The special shelters feature solar panels on the roof that help run fans and circulate air within the shelter. This experience is designed to demonstrate Prius' available Solar Powered Ventilation System, which uses a fan to draw outside air into the cabin to reduce cabin temperature when the car is parked in direct sunlight."

The image of the Prius that appears with this post was taken from the Prius website.