FLORABUNDANCE WELCOMES 2011 IN GRAND STYLE!
It was a crisp cool morning in Pasadena as the 122 Tournament of Roses Parade kicked off in high style! With guest Grand Marshall Paula Dean leading the way in a vintage car bedecked with Orchids, Mini Callas, Hydrangea, Roses and of course, sticks of butter that were secured in place by designers Keith White AIFD and Patricia Gomez AIFD, it was a fantastic way to show the world how beautiful flowers can be! Escorted by the Pasadena City Motor Police were motorcycles adorned both front and back with flowers from Florabundance! Designers Haskell Ergle AIFD and Roger Dennis AIFD designed garlands and booty covers of white Dendrobium Orchids, blue Iris, red Roses and red Carnations. What a stylish way to enhance the white motorcycles.
The remaining parade was filled with high stepping marching bands from around the country, equestrian units and floats made entirely of fresh flowers, vegetables, seeds and a host of other organic materials. Barks, pine cones, both whole and dissected, man-made rocks of seeds, berries or potatoes , mushrooms of seeds, dried pineapple, persimmons and dried lotus leaves all decorated the beds of the floats. Some were smaller – 35’and under while others were as long as 110’! Live spruce trees, palm trees both live and man-made were covered in orchids to get the desired effect of snow resting on the branches. Where else but Southern California does it snow white Cattleya Orchids?
Charisma Floats provide two entries into this year’s parade. From the City of West Covina came a tribute to the 911 tragedy of the fallen heroes that were at Ground Zero. It featured 3 children dressed in oversized Fireman, Police, and Paramedic uniforms made of sweet rice, blended strawflower and poppy seed. Seaweed was used on the shoes and hats to make them look shiny like leather. The deck was filled with Gerbera Daisies, Roses, Carnations and Chrysanthemums. Water Tubes by the 1000’s kept everything looking fresh and spectacular for parade day.
The Los Angeles County Fireman’s Float also had a 911 theme as well. This 56’long tribute to the September 11th tragedy featured a fireplug that was found underneath Tower II and it was presented to the County as a thank you for all the help and assistance they gave the City of New York. It was surrounded by an all white tribute designed by Larry Kramer AIFD that featured Anthurium, Dendrobium Orchids, Snapdragons, Stock, Roses and Carnations. This was placed on a Pentagon shaped setting of tiered Pentagons that were covered in Eucalyptus leaves that covered the side walls and held over 1000 Cherry Love roses and red Carnations from Florabundance. Other areas on the float were decked with blue Iris, 100’s of Gerbera Daisies, 1000’s of red Carnations and Cherry Love Roses as well as Gold Strike Roses. The back featured a 35’ tall flora graph of the Firemen raising the flag at Ground Zero. Each side was adorned with 100’s of Oncidium and Dendrobium Orchids. It was a spectacular tribute to the fallen heroes!
Florabundance is a provider of floral product for both small and large events as well as your everyday design work. Check out their web site for the entire latest and greatest product available for the New Year! Keep watching as it comes closer to Oscar time!
