Bayer Advanced™ Garden of Oz Rose Parade® Float Wins Ninth Consecutive Trophy for Its Salute to the 70th Anniversary of The Wizard Of Oz™ Movie

Research Triangle Park, N.C./Pasadena, Calif. — RTP-based Bayer Advanced won its ninth consecutive Rose Parade trophy with its Garden of Oz float during the January 1, 2009, Rose Parade. Bayer Advanced makes consumer rose care products that make it easy to grow Rose Parade-quality roses in your own backyard.

Bayer Advanced Float Wins Fantasy Trophy

Tournament of Roses judges awarded the Bayer Advanced float the Fantasy Trophy for most outstanding display of fantasy and imagination. Bayer Advanced is a three-time winner of the Fantasy Trophy.

"It's an honor to be recognized with our ninth consecutive trophy for the Bayer Advanced Garden of Oz Rose Parade float,” says Mark Schneid, head of marketing for Bayer Advanced. "The Garden of Oz is symbolic of the type of wishes Bayer Advanced grants: Rose Parade-quality roses in your own backyard.”

The theme for the 120th Rose Parade was Hats off to Entertainment. Bayer Advanced and Pasadena-based Phoenix Decorating, the largest Rose Parade float builder, created the float that salutes one of the most entertaining and popular movies of all time: The Wizard of Oz, which was released in 1939. The American Film Institute considers it one of America's 10 greatest films. Warner Bros. has launched a 70th anniversary celebration.

Key Features of the Bayer Advanced Garden of Oz Float

• Sculpted characters including the Scarecrow, Tin Man, Cowardly Lion and Professor Marvel (a.k.a. The Wizard of Oz).
• The float features more than 12,000 roses, including one that traveled Over the Rainbow on NASA’s space shuttle. NASA Astronaut Rex Walheim took the rose into space on the shuttle Atlantis in February 2008. The rose traveled more than five million miles on the shuttle. Rex’s brother, Bayer Advanced Garden Expert Lance Walheim selected the rose from the Bayer Advanced-sponsored Wrigley Gardens in Pasadena and prepared it for launch.
• The world debut of the Pink Promise rose - one of the 2009 All-America Rose Selections™
• Two riders: Dorothy and Glinda, the Good Witch.
• A rotating giant rose in front of Professor Marvel's crystal ball. The Tin Man's hat releases steam.
• Yellow roses were used to make the Yellow Brick Road on the Bayer Advanced Garden of Oz float.

Bayer Advanced Rose Parade Trophies

All Bayer Advanced Rose Parade floats have received Tournament of Roses trophies. Each float, including the Bayer Advanced Garden of Oz, was designed by Phoenix Decorating's Michelle Lofthouse.

• 2009, 2004 and 2001: Fantasy Trophy for the most outstanding display of fantasy and imagination
• 2008, 2007, 2006 and 2002: Queen's Trophy for the best use of roses
• 2005: President's Trophy for the most effective use and presentation of flowers
• 2003: Animation Trophy for the best animation and motion