Winter Color: Leucadendron

At the dawn of winter, we’re surrounded by Christmas greens. As the season settles in, we find ourselves shifting back to more traditional foliage. By the time January’s cold, cozy days roll around? Leucadendron, please! There is such an eruption of color on the farm during this time of year. As the weather gets colder, the colors become brighter and more intense. Leucadendron seemingly ‘wake up’ and make superb winter flowers in a variety of colors and textures.

Safari Sunset, which is red or burgundy most of the year, lives up to its name in winter as it changes to ‘Tricolor’ with lovely multicolored bracts in hues of maroon, green and gold.

Safari Tricolor

And, many of our favorite green Leucadendron suddenly take on vivid shades of cream, white and yellow. Inca gold turns a bright yellow color with a touch of red on the tips. Leucadendron Gold Strike transform into beautiful yellow ‘tulips’ and Maui Sunset is simply stunning in hues of white and pink.

Inca Gold

Gold Strike

Maui Sunset

Bursting with color and texture, this long-lasting foliage will keep you happy for weeks!

Inspirational Floral News:

US (CA): Photos CCFC's 25th anniversary

CCFC's Silver Anniversary was celebrated on December 3. According to the organization, it was a memorable evening. "An evening we won't soon forget." A lot of pictures were taken from their celebration in Santa Barbara. The room was filled with flower farmers, stakeholders from throughout the state and guests. They thank everyone for a wonderful evening celebrating the accomplishments of the past 25 years! Read the rest of this article at floral daily.

Thryptomene

Pronounced “thrip-to-mee-nee,” this Australian native shrub produces dense sprays of petite white or pink flowers winter through spring. The small, needlelike foliage is very similar to waxflower. It has a crisp, fresh and even citrus-like aroma when crushed. Thryptomene is a member of the Myrtaceae family and is closely related to myrtle, bottlebrush, Leptospermum and Eucalyptus. Currently, there are about 40 named Thryptomene species.

The two popular varieties grown for cut flowers are calycina and saxicola: Thryptomene calycina - Commonly known as Grampians heath myrtle or Victorian laceflower, this species of white and pink flowers grows wild in Victoria, Australia, in the mountainous area known as the Grampians.

Thryptomene saxicola - Commonly known as rock Thryptomene, is indigenous to the Stirling and Eyre districts of Southwestern Australia. It grows among granite boulders, and its pale pink or white flowers closely resemble waxflower.

Thryptomenes will last for up to three weeks with proper care and conditions. 

What to look for:   

1. Purchase flowers that have at least 1/3 of the flowers open. 
2. Watch for signs of blossom drop or dry brittle leaves when making selections.

Flower Care:

1. Remove the packaging and bindings immediately upon arrival.
2. Trim the stems with a sharp knife removing at least ½” from each stem.
3. Remove all leaves that fall below the water line.
4. Place the stems into a clean vase or bucket with a properly prepared flower food solution.
5. Place Thryptomene into a floral cooler at 34 F to 36 F, and allow them to hydrate for at least two hours before designing with or selling them. 
6. Provide good air circulation, high humidity and light to keep these flowers looking good.
7.  Recut the stems and change the water frequently.

Interesting Facts: The name Thryptomene comes from the Greek word meaning “made small,” alluding to the small size of most Thryptomene blossoms. The species name calycina refers to the prominent calyx of the flower. The species name saxicola comes from the Latin “saxum,” meaning “rock” or “boulder.”

CCFC Launches BloomCheck

In the fall of 2012, the California Cut Flower Commission (CCFC) embarked on the journey of designing and implementing a sustainable flower farming program for California Cut Flower farmers. This month after concluding a successful pilot project, the CCFC’s sustainability certification program, BloomCheck, launched. This program is the result of a comprehensive study, and contributions from the California flower community as well as a two-year Specialty Crop Block Grant that was initiated to help better position California’s flower farming practices as the sustainability standard of choice for consumers and the industry.

“Consumers across our country understand the high standards and the strict oversight that is involved with growing anything in California,” said CCFC's CEO & Ambassador, Kasey Cronquist. “BloomCheck was developed to make sure our farms were provided with the credit they deserve for the work they do to meet and exceed the high bar involved with growing flowers in California.”

The foundation of the program is a self-assessment workbook that addresses all of the important production issues facing cut flowers and greens farmers in California. The workbook has multiple benefits. It helps farmers identify strengths in their flower production operations. It also helps them identify areas where improvements can be made, as well as provide information on practices that can be implemented to make these improvements.

BloomCheck is certified by Protected Harvest, a third-party certifier and auditing company. Farms are encouraged to log in to the BloomCheck online self-assessment program at www.SustainableFlowers.org, complete the self-assessment and encouraged to go for their certification.

Resendiz Brothers Protea Growers is very proud to be one of the first adopters of this new program!

2016 Farm-to-Float Campaign

With a full-on salute to California Grown (#CAGROWN) flowers and nature's pollinators, the 2016 Miracle-Gro® Tournament of Roses Parade float is already being called a show-stopping stunner.

Life Starts Here 

For about as long as there's been a Rose Parade providing California-style relief to the winter-weary, there's been Miracle-Gro®, helping gardeners everywhere grow beautiful backyard blooms. This year is no exception. 

Miracle-Gro, now in its fourth year as The Official Rose and Flower Care Company of the Rose Parade, anticipates that its 2016 Rose Parade float, Life Starts Here, will inspire people everywhere to dig in and discover their own piece of the earth - a goal befitting the 2016 Parade theme, Find Your Adventure. 

Certified CA GROWN

Life Starts HereAnd because almost nothing is more inspiring to gardeners and flower lovers everywhere than stunning, sustainable flowers, Miracle-Gro's 2016 Rose Parade float is an all-out salute to California's high-quality flowers and the Golden State farmers who grow them. Read the rest of this article at RoseParada.Miracle-Gro.