Total Pageviews

Friday, January 1, 2010

Where Bowers of Flowers Bloom in the Sun (Rose Parade, Part III)


122 years ago a group of local Pasadena boosters decided to show off and high light the mild Southern California winters to the folks back East with a "little parade" down Colorado Blvd. The "little parade" developed into the Tournament of Roses.


The original Tournament consisted of a Parade, diversions like chariot races, and eventually a football game. Over the years it focused on the Parade and the football game.



These are just a few close ups of the flowers and floral work on various floats from the 2010 Rose Parade.


With over 16 million people in greater Los Angeles, I'd say that the local boosters did a pretty good job convincing people to move out to California.


Every float is required to be entirely covered in organic material, including - of course - flowers. This is a close up from the Cal Poly float.



"Where Bowers of Flowers Bloom in the Sun."
The beautiful January morning, bright sunny skys and gorgeous flowers remind me of a line from the old song California, Here I Come.


Wow: bright! Here's a close up of the backside of the Kaiser Permanente float: "Magnificant Tales of Health."


These last three photos are from the Bayer Advanced float: "We Are The Champions."


As I shared in a similar post this time last year, with everything going on in the world (war, famine, natural disaters, civil conflicts, etc.) as a Christian is it trival for me to even wonder what God thinks about like the Rose Parade? Or, perhaps, better, what does God think about flowers? What does He think of His creation?


As a friend and professor a California State University, Northridge, stated: "a clearer view of the creation gives us a clearer view of the Creator." Theologians call this natural revelation. In the first century, Saint Paul wrote to a group of Christians in the city of Rome: "for since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities - his eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made ... " (Romans 1:20).



There's many reasons why I like taking my family to the Rose Parade, but one reason is enjoy the magnificance, variety, and splendor of the creation. Not to worship it, but the One who made it all.

Perhaps it's just me, but I find the Rose Parade as spectacular as the Grand Canyon, Yosemite Valley, or the Redwoods. And living in Los Angeles, a lot closer.


What a wonderful way to kick off 2010.

Here's a couple of links to where we watch the parade (if you're looking for some tips on where to sit) and some more of the 2010 floats.

Happy New Year.


.

No comments: