A Rose by any other name....

Roses for Lucy Pet's Rose Parade float have arrived!

Unless you live in Southern California, chances are you have not experienced the Tournament of Roses parade in person. Even if you do live in So Cal, chances are small that you have helped to decorate the magnificent floats that make up the annual Rose Parade. It is truly a memorable experience. I have been blessed to have this opportunity several times, and this year is no exception. We are down to the wire decorating the Lucy Pet Gnarly Crankin K9 Wave Maker Rose Parade float, now certified as breaking two Guinness World Records, the Longest and Heaviest in the world. Too bad they don't have an award for most beautiful float. 

At any rate...the basic float design theme is a tropical paradise with fish and flowers, all decorated from plant, flower and organic materials. Many types of plants and seeds, etc are used to create the stunning designs, but the name sake of the parade and football game "Rose Parade" and "Rose Bowl" is because of the beautiful roses. 

Pails of fresh long stem roses arrive in buckets

So it may come as no surprise that the level of excitement goes up to a whole new level when the roses arrive at the float barn for decorating. Each fresh rose is carefully hand snipped to the appropriate length, then placed into its own vial filled with water. It is a remarkable sight to see. I hope you enjoy seeing these photos..I can tell you that the Fiesta Float Barn smells so wonderfully fragrant right now!

Rows and Rows of Roses and Roses...

Workers and volunteers organize their flowers

Roses are all hand snipped for water vials

Lucy Pet Roses ready for the float decorating!