Celebrating a Century of Blooms: Mellano & Company's Contribution to the 2026 Rose Parade
As the confetti settles from the 137th Tournament of Roses Parade on January 1, 2026, we at Mellano & Company reflect on a truly historic year. The parade's theme, “The Magic in Teamwork”, perfectly captured the spirit of collaboration that defines not only our company but the entire Rose Parade tradition. Our greatest achievements are never made alone—and this year, working together, we accomplished something extraordinary in our centennial celebration.
For 100 years, Mellano & Company has been honored to serve as the largest supplier of fresh-cut flowers and foliage to the Rose Parade. In 2025, our centennial year, we reached new heights by providing blooms and foliage for twenty-four floats—the most in our company's history. We also supplied flowers for the Norton Simon Museum and, for the first time, the Hi PA’U Riders from Hawaii.
A Worldwide Team Effort: Sourcing the World's Finest Blooms
Our success during the holiday rush was built on seamless collaboration across every department—from precise order coordination and purchasing through challenging holiday logistics, to flawless warehouse operations that ensured rigorous quality checks, proper hydration, and timely deliveries.
Shipments arrived right on schedule via truck transportation (over 2,000 boxes) and international flights into LAX. All pre-orders were fully completed by the morning of December 28, with additional and last-minute orders fulfilled through December 30.
Purchasing was handled masterfully by our in-house experienced floral and greens buyers, who navigated holiday weather challenges and complex logistics to source premium blooms from trusted partners in Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Thailand, New Zealand, Australia, Africa, Costa Rica, Peru, China, Japan, Canada, Italy, Hawaii, California—and, of course, our own certified American Grown farm in Southern California.
Inbound shipments flowed seamlessly: carnations and pompons began arriving as early as December 18, followed by major rose deliveries on December 21 and 23. Trucks moved more than 2,000 boxes with impeccable timing and coordination.
In the warehouse, under strong supervision, our team conducted thorough quality checks and began hydration starting December 20, while maintaining meticulous organization throughout the process.
The Mellano team prepared 178 long carts filled with buckets of fresh flowers and 45 pallets ready for distribution. Our dedicated drivers ensured every delivery was on time and in perfect condition.
Pre-orders wrapped up by the morning of December 28, and we tactfully accommodated additional last-minute requests through December 30—delivering freshness and reliability when our customers needed it most. This kind of cross-departmental teamwork is what makes the magic happen. Thank you to every member of the Mellano team for another incredible season!
None of this would be possible without our worldwide partners who deliver exceptional quality and service year after year. Over half a million stems delivered — from lush greens to iconic roses.
Rooting for Our Clients
We were proud to supply flowers for these incredible entries:
City of Downey
City of South Pasadena
City of Sierra Madre
City of Burbank
Cal Poly Universities
Artistic Entertainment Services (One Legacy, The UPS Store, AIDS Healthcare Foundation – Healthy Housing, State of Louisiana, State of Mississippi, State of South Dakota, Go Bowling, Boys and Girls Club, San Diego Zoo, Michael Sewell Foundation, Paramount Studios – Star Trek, Princess Cruises, Honda Motors, Rising Together California Community Foundation, Alabama University, Indiana University)
Fiesta Productions (City of San Francisco, City of Torrance, America 250 – Celebrating America’s 250th Year)
Cal Poly Universities float “Jungle Jumpstart” during the 137th Rose Parade in Pasadena on Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. (Photo by Libby Cline Birmingham, Contributing Photographer)
Congratulations to all, especially Cal Poly Universities for winning the prestigious Sweepstakes Award with their "Jungle Jumpstart" float—the top honor of the parade!
A Centennial Legacy
As our 100th anniversary celebration concludes, we believe Giovanni Mellano, our founder, would be immensely proud of these accomplishments and excited for the next century ahead.
Thank you to everyone—past and present—who has contributed to Mellano & Company's success over the last 100 years. Your dedication has enriched families, communities, and traditions like the Rose Parade.
Here's to more magic in teamwork in the years to come!