Instagram: Photos We Dig

Ten fabulous photos from Confetti Daydreams - A Wedding Blog and go-to bridal resource for swoonworthy bridal inspiration with a touch of flirty fun. Romantics at heart, they’re not afraid to break tradition and be a little bit silly. They’ll guide you through your wedding planning journey while inspiring you to discover how to bring your own individual flair to your special day. Their editor, Storm, daydreams about pink, sparkles, ruffles and beautiful blooms all day long. She’s obsessed with bringing you bridal fashion exclusives, practical wedding planning advice, useful downloads and all around dreamy wedding inspiration.

Protea Wreath: Crafting & Care

Christmas trees aren’t the only game in town when it comes to adding natural botanical decor to a home. As holiday wreaths go up, we love the idea of replacing the faux with fresh protea and greens. A bountiful protea wreath enhances festive décor and adds a sense of luxury and organic authenticity to a home. Our wreaths are carefully created using daily harvested, fresh-cut flowers and foliage to ensure longevity. But what can you do to help ensure the longevity of your wreath once you’ve placed it in that special place? Follow these simple steps:

Water your Wreath...

Whether a wreath is hung in the heat of your house or the cold air outside, these winter environments are dry, and the flowers have no source of moisture. You will need to adjust the amount of water your wreath requires based on where you put it. A wreath displayed outside in a cool climate will require misting once a day. A wreath kept outside in a warm climate, or displayed indoors will need frequent watering or misting. You can also lay it in a couple inches of water to allow it to 'drink' from the back where the stems are.

Spritz your Wreath...

Another beauty tool also can be a secret weapon here. Grab a can of Aqua-Net, that beloved American hair spray brand, and give your wreath a spritz. If it could turn crazy-big '80s hair into a helmet, keeping protea and foliage in place should be no problem.

Avoid Direct Sunlight...

Your wreath should be kept out of direct sunlight and away from heat sources.

Enjoy – Happy Holidays...

After the flowers begin to fade, cease spraying and let the wreath dry naturally. Protea don’t die, they dry ‘Beautifully’.

Tetragona Wins ‘Best in Class’ Decorative Foliage

Another Society of American Florists’ (SAF) Outstanding Varieties award winner: Eucalyptus Tetragona. This fabulous foliage was dubbed Best in Class - Decorative Foliage during the 132nd Annual Convention in Maui, Hawaii. The entry was among the 184 different varieties from 20 farms. Judges scored each entry based on color and commercial appeal, stem and foliage, bloom form and size, and overall presentation. The judging panel included three retailers, three farmers and three wholesalers.

Floral Management Magazine's November issue cites, “Looking to shake up Christmas? Look to ‘Tetragona.’ The variety’s stems have broad, aromatic, gray-blue green leaves with a very prominent central vein. Judges loved the silvery-white tones along the length of the stems and leaves and said the foliage would be ideal in formal bridal bouquets, especially those with a silver color theme. Flowers are grouped in threes and have masses of white stamens grouped together in the four corners of each flower head. “Tegtragona’ nuts are a naturally chic addition to floral arrangements, and look stylish in Christmas flower wreaths,” said Diana Roy of Resendiz Brothers Protea Growers. They’ll also last the holiday season with an expected vase life of four weeks.”

Here's a few fabulous ways we’ve seen Tetragona used in designs.

Serruria Wins ‘Best in Class’ - Other Cut Flower

The Society of American Florists’ (SAF) Outstanding Varieties Competition has always been a great way for us to help increase visibility and demand for the flowers and foliage we grow, especially for the ‘newer’ varieties. During this year’s annual SAF convention in Maui, wholesalers, florists, designers and farmers awarded Serrruia ‘Best in Class’ in the Other Cut Flower category, and we were Thrilled!

Floral Management Magazine’s November issue states, “Attendees and judges alike had one thing – weddings- on the brain when discussing the prize-winning protea. “I love this one for its texture, white and pale pink color and vase life,” which can extend up to four weeks, said James McArdle of McArdles’s Florist and Garden Center in Greenwich, Connecticut. “I see it being a great filler in a low and lush arrangement.” Mitchell said ‘Blushing’ would be the ideal flower to show a bride who wants to blend an “edgy and cool” aesthetic with soft, feminine colors. The unique beauty also delivers in cost per stem, said Chivery, noting “the stems were laden with flowers.” Serruria, one of the most delicate flowers in the Proteaceae family, was technically extinct in the wild for almost a century until an accidental fire germinated seeds in South Africa’s Franschoek Mountains, according to Roy. “Conservation efforts in the 1960s and 70s saved it,” she said.

To learn more about Serruria and our first harvest – Click here:

For Serruria design and care information - Click here:

In the Field: Pinita

Pinita just recently entered the Protea scene and has done so with quite a splash! Considered a hybrid queen, this flower is a blend of P. magnifica (queen) and P. longifolia. Pinita has a medium-to-large bloom with a slightly waxen appearance, obviously more longifolia influence and lacking the woolly beards of the magnifica. The floral bracts are beautifully flushed and tipped in a bright chili-pepper pink, then shading to cream at the base. The central peaked dome is heavily tipped with black, providing for a strong and interesting contrast.

Pinita looks great mixed with other protea or combined with an array other colorful flowers and foliage. Here's are just some of the lovely ways we've found her being displayed!