Florists at Middletown Kroger prepare iconic Garland of Lilies for Kentucky Oaks champion

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Master florists at the Middletown Kroger were hard at work Wednesday preparing the iconic Garland of Lilies for Friday's Kentucky Oaks champion.

It takes about 145 starfighter lilies, all hand-sewn and hand-picked for quality control, in painstaking work to fill the garland that will be draped over the winning filly.

Crowds gathered Thursday to witness the historic occasion, which surprised one woman who was on her normal shopping trip. She was shocked by the crowd, but didn't want to pass up a chance to get a closer look.

"It's really neat," she said. "I can't believe it's actually made in our Kroger, which is really cool, it's literally two miles from my house. So, it's really magical."

With the amount of work that goes into the garland, it even gets a police escort to Churchill Downs Friday before the race.

Friday, the florists will get back to work, this time making the Garland of Roses for the winner of Saturday's 151st Kentucky Derby.

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