City of Duarte/City Hope’s 37th Annual Tournament of Roses Float Awarded Past President’s Trophy For Best Use of Floral and Non-Floral Materials
With millions watching, Duarte’s Tournament of Roses float entry proudly made its way down Colorado Blvd. accompanied by a banner proclaiming it the winner of the Past President’s Trophy.
“What a thrill and a wonderful way for Duarte to kick off 2010,” said Mayor Margaret Finlay who watched the parade on the street with family and friends. We’re so proud of our collaborative effort with the City of Hope. The kids on the float are great representatives for our city.”
The float themed “Harvesting Good Health” was the 37th annual joint entry sponsored by the City of Duarte and City of Hope National Medical Center. The float brought to life a fun-filled “Community Garden” patch of oversized fruits and vegetables in a colorful and whimsical setting. Plump melons, crisp asparagus, wholesome corn and fresh peas and carrots are ready to harvest and eat. It was designed and built by leading Tournament of Roses float builder, Fiesta Parade Floats.
Gardens of yellow roses and gerbera set the backdrop for floral displays of purple larkspur, yellow and white daisy poms with design clusters of green bells of Ireland, purple liatris, white monte casino and yellow sunflowers.
The watermelon was decorated in dehydrated parsley flakes and crushed green split peas. Ears of fresh corn were created with shades of yellow and gold strawflower petals. Carrots were decorated in actual dehydrated carrot granules.
Five pediatric patients from the City of Hope rode on the float: Michael Miyamoto, 16, of Walnut, Kelsy Lopez, 14, of Pasadena, Jessica Mastan 14, of Pasadena, Carina Melchor, 17, of Anaheim, and Raphael Forbes, 15, of Upland. The young patients were accompanied by City of Hope nurse Awa Jones, RN, BSN, MSHCN.
Staff from City of Hope, one of the world’s leading cancer centers, along with residents and volunteers from numerous community organizations in Duarte, participated in decorating the float built by leading float builder, Fiesta Parade Floats in Irwindale.
