A retired florist from South Dakota got to check an item off his bucket list this past week after getting to help decorate one of the floats participating in the 136th Rose Parade held on Monday (Jan. 1, 2024).
Dave Engelmeyer and his late wife Bev owned and operated the Jungle of Flowers flower shop in Burke for 42 years and Dave continues to do free lance work for florists around the state. He says it’s through connections made while running their business that he met the people who would eventually get him invited to help build one of the floats.
Engelmeyer worked primarily on the Explore Louisiana float.
Engelmeyer says loads of flowers were distributed each morning.
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And because the floats have to travel from where they’re built to the starting point of the parade and down the 5.5 mile parade route, Engelmeyer says everything has to be very well secured onto the float.
and….
From the around 40 float entries, the Explore Louisiana float won the Showmanship Award for the most outstanding display of showmanship and entertainment.
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 Penn State and Utah with Penn State winning 35-21.
Dave Englemeyer (right) with float decorating team members.
Photo credit to Poppy Parsons, used with permission from Dave Engelemeyer.
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