A retired florist from Burke, South Dakota, was in Pasadena, California, over Christmas and the New Year to help decorate four of the floats that were in the 137th Rose Parade (Jan. 1, 2025). Dave Engelmeyer helped decorate one float last year, but this year, Artistic Entertainment Services brought him along to help decorate four different floats. https://media-cdn.socastsrm.com/wordpress/wp-content/blogs.dir/2626/files/2025/01/010625-engelmeyer1.mp3 Engelmeyer says everything you see on the floats either is– or once was– a living plant of some sort. https://media-cdn.socastsrm.com/wordpress/wp-content/blogs.dir/2626/files/2025/01/010625-engelmeyer2.mp3 He says decorating supplies are shipped in from all over the world. https://media-cdn.socastsrm.com/wordpress/wp-content/blogs.dir/2626/files/2025/01/010625-engelmeyer3.mp3 The floats have to travel from where they’re built to the starting point of the parade and then down the 5.5 mile parade route, so Engelmeyer says everything has to be secured onto the float very well– and they have a short amount of time to get them decorated. https://media-cdn.socastsrm.com/wordpress/wp-content/blogs.dir/2626/files/2025/01/010625-engelmeyer4.mp3 The Rose Parade is part of Pasadena, California’s, Tournament of Roses activities, which also includes the Rose Bowl college football game. This year’s game featured Ohio State vs. Oregon State with Ohio State winning 41-21. Dave and his late wife Bev owned and operated the Jungle of Flowers shop in Burke for 42 years. Dave continues to do free lance work for florists around the state. Photo courtesy of Dave Englemeyer and Artistic Entertainment Services. Photo courtesy of Dave Englemeyer and Artistic Entertainment Services. Photo courtesy of Dave Englemeyer and Artistic Entertainment Services. Photo courtesy of Dave Englemeyer and Artistic Entertainment Services. Photo courtesy of Dave Englemeyer and Artistic Entertainment Services. Photo courtesy of Dave Englemeyer and Artistic Entertainment Services. Photo courtesy of Dave Englemeyer and Artistic Entertainment Services. Photo courtesy of Dave Englemeyer and Artistic Entertainment Services. Photo courtesy of Dave Englemeyer and Artistic Entertainment Services.