After the Rose Parade, many of the floats get parked along a Pasadena street and for $ we got up close and personal to them.
It is facinating to see all the use of the flowers and plant products. Broccoli, potatoes, apricots, lemon, and lime slices.
Lots of the color comes from straw flowers which come in many different colors in nature. The flowers get cut from the stems and blended (really! in a blender) and then the small pieces are patted onto glued surfaces. I really enjoy the natural colors
The FTD and the Bayer floats use a lot of flowers. Many floats are made by local communities. Even more are designed by professional float designers and take about a year to build. Of course, the last few days putting the fresh flowers on the floats it must be a rat race. New this year were really long-stemmed red roses - 6' stems!
Many of the floats extend in length and height to make their way to the parade route. Lots of hydraulics that interest Dean a bunch. Many are animated and one even had fire-breathing dragons.
