Santa Fe Montessoris Drifthenge

Nature Works of Escondido, perhaps best known for its faux botanical projects at the San Diego Zoo and Euro-Disney, has just installed its first playground structure at Santa Fe Montessori School in Solana Beach. Called “Drifthenge,” the climber, handmade by Nature Works owner Nancy Moran with business partner Valerie Salatino, looks like genuine driftwood. The leggy maze of steel piping overlaid with epoxy is carved and sanded to smooth-perfection to make it kid-friendly.  “We use our own epoxy recipe,” notes Moran, “and we have to work fast — it only takes 30 minutes until it’s hard as rock.” (www.natureworksinc.net)      JANESHIOMI