If you watch the Rose Parade...

[virtualworldofhp]

--- In HPFGU-OTChatter at y..., "pippin_999" <foxmoth at q...> wrote:
> on New Years Day, take a look at the Dr. Pepper float (it's 
> number 29).  I helped decorate it! I spent most of yesterday 
> gluing real moss onto artificial boulders covered with poppy 
> seeds. For those who aren't familiar with this American 
> extravaganza, all Rose Parade floats have to be covered with 
> vegetable material on every exposed surface. It can be crushed, 
> shredded or ground but not dyed. 
>    Seeing the floats under construction is amazing. There were 
> about nine of them in our tent. They are huge close up, about two 
> stories high and covered with scaffolding. The paid crew runs 
> around with clip boards and looks important, while the 
> volunteers (like me) try to do what we're told and stay out of their 
> way at the same time. We all had pieces of masking tape on our 
> backs with our names and a number saying how many years 
> experience at decorating we had. I was a lowly zero, but I did  
> actually get to put stuff on the float. Only experts get to handle the 
> actual flowers...they were all stowed in five gallon white plastic 
> buckets and there were thousands of them...all kinds and colors.
> And they kept bringing more in all day.

That is so cool, Pippin!  I've always been in love with the Rose
Parade and COMPLETELY at awe at the amount of work those floats seem
to carry.  I can only imagine how incredible it would be like to see
them in person.  Kudos to you!

-Megan