(MENAFN Editorial) MARYSVILLE, Ohio, Dec. 26, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Miracle-Gro®, the Official Rose & Flower Care Company of the Tournament of Roses®, returns to Pasadena for the sixth year in a row, and today announced details for its 2018 float, titled '150 Years and Growing.' From whimsical pollinator gardens to backyard barbeques, the float showcases those special moments found in backyards around the world, as well as highlights the company's heritage.

Designed and built once again by Fiesta Parade Floats, as well as more than 12 floral designers, this year's float showcases an abundance of colorful floral displays, including 150 different botanical materials from six continents, a rare occurrence in the Rose Parade. Approximately 550 volunteers will spend 4,400 hours during decoration week to place more than 27,000 roses on the float. Larger than life sculpted flowers reaching heights of 24 feet will majestically 'grow' overhead the float riders.

'The year 2018 marks our company's 150th anniversary, and as we reflect on our heritage in the lawn and garden industry, we look forward to the future,' said Michael Sutterer, Senior Vice President & General Manager of the Gardens Business Unit at Scotts Miracle-Gro. 'As we work to solidify our legacy, we felt it was important for this year's float to honor those who use our products to make a difference in their communities, while also celebrating the special moments that happen in our own backyards and backyards around the world.'

Meet the 2018 Float Riders
Joining celebrity DIY expert Ty Pennington for his fourth year on the Miracle-Gro float are six extraordinary individuals who've made a lasting impact in their local community.

Olin Snakenborg of Torrance, CA was one of 650,000 participants nationwide who competed in the Scotts MLB Pitch Hit & Run program, earning a trip to the 2017 National Finals at the MLB All-Star Week in Miami, FL. Scotts MLB Pitch Hit & Run is the Official Youth Skills Competition of Major League Baseball, and 2018 will mark the sixth year of Scotts' sponsorship of the MLB Pitch Hit & Run program.

Tyler & Ryker Cruze, a father and son duo from Seattle, WA, were introduced to Scotts Miracle-Gro when Tyler, president of the North Snohomish Little League, applied for the Scotts® Field Refurbishment Program – a joint initiative between Scotts and the Major League Baseball (MLB) Association to give back to kids and communities around the country by renovating youth baseball and softball fields. Scotts and MLB worked to transform one of the 90-foot baseball diamonds at the North Snohomish Little League facility into a multiuse field for multiple base paths, providing the league with the ability to host multiple levels of baseball and softball at the field.

Shirly Barrett of Pasadena, CA has dedicated her work at the Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) to help with water conservation efforts. In addition to converting conventional irrigation and landscaping to low volume, point source irrigation and water wise landscaping, including edible landscapes, she has designed over 12 school gardens on PUSD grounds, saving several millions of gallons of water and reducing maintenance costs by thousands of dollars, over the past 18 years.

Emmanuel 'Manny' Garcia of Pasadena, CA, started working at Muir Ranch, a 3.5-acre biodynamic urban teaching farm on the John Muir High School campus in Pasadena, following graduation from John Muir High School in 2013. Over the past four years, Manny has mentored and taught high school students how to grow their own food and grow and arrange flowers, while helping lead the expansion of Muir Ranch from a 1-acre to a 3-acre production farm all while partnering with Miracle-Gro.

Mary Kimball from West Sacramento, CA is the Executive Director of Land-Based Learning, a program dedicated to inspiring, educating, and cultivating future generations of farmers, agricultural leaders and natural resource stewards. Through Kimball's 19 years of leadership, the Land-Based Learning Center has grown to offer five different programs that serve more than 25 California counties. Kimball also started the California Farm Academy, the only beginning farmer training, business incubator, and apprenticeship program of its kind in Northern California.

'Through their dedication and hard work, these individuals are making a difference by empowering their communities to take an active interest in getting outside and finding inspiration and beauty in the world around them,' said Sutterer. 'Whether it is a public park, an urban community farm, or other shared green space, these areas are an increasingly important part of the fabric of our urbanized societies, and we're committed to promoting and helping to sustain these spaces for future generations.'

Rose Parade® Awards

All of Miracle-Gro's past Rose Parade entries have received awards, including the Queen's Trophy for most effective use and display of roses in concept, design and presentation (2017 & 2014); Governor's Trophy for best depiction of life in California (2016); Isabella Coleman Trophy for best use of color in flowers (2015); and Crown City Innovation Trophy for best use of imagination and innovation to advance float design (2013).

For more information about this year's float visit . Join our Rose Parade conversation on social media, like us on Facebook and follow us on , and .

About ScottsMiracle-Gro
The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company is the world's largest marketer of branded consumer products for lawn and garden care. The Company's brands are the most recognized in the industry. In the U.S., the Company's Scotts®, Miracle-Gro® and Ortho® brands are market-leading in their categories, as is the consumer Roundup® brand, which is marketed near worldwide by Scotts and owned by Monsanto. We maintain a minority interest in TruGreen®, the largest residential lawn care service business, and in Bonnie Plants®, the largest marketer of edible gardening plants in retail channels. The Company's wholly-owned subsidiary, The Hawthorne Gardening Company, is a leading provider of nutrients, lighting and other materials used in the hydroponic growing industry. For additional information, visit us at .

About the Pasadena Tournament of Roses®
The Tournament of Roses is a volunteer organization that hosts America's New Year Celebration® with the Rose Parade® presented by Honda, the Rose Bowl Game® presented by Northwestern Mutual and a variety of accompanying events. 935 volunteer members of the association will drive the success of the 129th Rose Parade themed 'Making A Difference,' on Monday, January 1, 2018, followed by the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the 104th Rose Bowl Game. For more information, visit . Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

For media inquiries: Kim Markus Lisa Stringham ScottsMiracle-Gro Zeno Group for Miracle-Gro 937-644-7290 312-363-9989 A photo accompanying this announcement is available at

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