What Happens to Pasadena’s Unused Rose Parade Float Flowers?

Unused Rose Parade floats flowers (File Photo – W.K.)

So, what happens to all the flowers that aren’t used on floats for the Rose Parade?

By Cheryl Cabot

They used to be thrown away, until Keith and Sue Jesson starting picking up the soon-to-be discarded flowers.

With the help of hundreds of volunteers, the flowers are collected in large buckets and transported to a staging area where they are bundled into bouquets. Every year U-Haul trucks full of flowers are delivered to a designated location. This year’s sponsor is San Marino Community Church on Virginia Avenue in San Marino.

Last year, the Walter Hoving Home in Pasadena was the chosen location for assembling. The Walter Hoving Home works with women who struggle with alcohol and drug addiction. Shannon Soper, business manager for the Walter Hoving Home, said “The Rose Parade Flower Ministry has been going on for over 20 years. After the Rose Parade the bouquets were distributed to 110 convalescent homes throughout Pasadena and the surrounding area to shed some love and kindness to elderly residents that are alone or just don’t have family visiting during the holidays.”

This year’s location is San Marino Community Church on 1750 Virginia Rd, San Marino, CA 91108.

Preparing the flowers to be made into bouquets (File Photo – W.K.)

Assembling the flowers (File Photo – W.K.)

Cutting flower stems (File Photo – W.K.)

Ready for delivery in the morning of the parade (File Photo – W.K.)

[This article has been updated to include the San Marino location. Dec. 19, 1:30 pm]