Field to Vase: American AgCredit Customer Appreciation Dinner

The Temecula Valley is Southern California’s Wine Country. Over 30 wineries populate the region’s rolling hills and sprawling valleys producing a variety of wines. It’s no surprise that this region has become a popular event destination.

This month, American AgCredit held its annual Customer Appreciation Dinner at Avensole Winery and Resendiz Brothers was asked to provide the flowers. We were excited to be able to use an assortment of beautiful protea that we don't often have available all at once, and we loved the idea of adding yellow callas to the mix.

The colorful combination of ivory, yellow, orange, pink, green and silver was a treat to work with and a feast for the eyes.

On ivory linens with burgundy napkins the centerpieces blended perfectly. Displayed in rustic whitewashed wooden containers we mixed an assortment of protea, pincushions, banksia, leucadendron, berzelia, brunia, eucalyptus and callas. Each centerpiece was unique and creatively designed adding a special ‘field to vase’ touch to this lovely vineyard location.

Mel and I enjoyed wearing our flower-farmer hats while creating these special arrangements.

Hortiflorexpo Shanghai: The Banksia

The brighter the better in some cases, and that’s what we’re loving these days when it comes to banksia.

The banksia is a bold and textural bloom that’s displayed in many of our favorite designs. For any season, there’s always a way to make them work no matter what the occasion is. I think the uniqueness of a banksia is what makes it loved by so many of us. When it comes to designing with banksia, the options are seemingly endless. Such an exceptional flower can be transformed by the designer, projecting a different look depending on what else it is paired with it. You can go with natural burgundy, orange or green hues, or add more color to the stems and create a virtual rainbow. I attended the Hortiflorexpo in Shanghai this month, and while in the Lynch Group exhibit, banksias were all the rage.

Here are some of the ways they were displayed throughout the booth.

What color combination do you like best?

Instagram: Photos We Dig

Ten fabulous photos featuring images by Peninsula Wild Flower, a flower-farmer florist located on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria, Australia. Peninsula Wild Flowers supplies locally grown native flowers to Florists and Farmers Markets, as well as does Weddings, special events and holds seasonal design classes.

American Grown Flowers Garnish First Lady's Luncheon

This year’s First Lady’s Luncheon was the latest inspiration for designing with all American Grown Flowers. Farms from across the country shipped over 18,000 stems of gorgeous American Grown Flowers to a team of over 20 volunteer floral designers led by Kelly Shore of Petals by the Shore, Christy Hulsey of The Colonial House of Flowers and Margaret Lloyd of Margret Joan Florals.

The Certified American Grown program for the second year in a row sponsored this iconic Washington, D.C., event. An annual bipartisan tradition hosted by the Congressional Club since 1912 to honor the first lady of the United States, the luncheon was attended by a record 2,100 people, including Congressional spouses, associates of members of Congress and cabinet members.

During this year’s luncheon, I had the pleasure to meet and speak with the first lady and to encourage the White House to adopt an all American Grown Flower policy. My request was reiterated by the Congressional Club’s Luncheon Chair who took a moment during her remarks to acknowledge the beautiful American Grown Flowers and asked that “everyone, including the White House, support American Grown Flowers.” The request from the podium was met with resounding applause.

The White House has a long-standing tradition of featuring American wines and food at the White House and it’s my hope that such a commitment will be extended to sourcing all American Grown Flowers as well. It’s a wonderful practice that every room of the White House is filled with vibrant flowers 365 days of the year. I believe it would be an affirmation of American farmers, American agriculture and of beautiful American Grown Flowers if they committed to sourcing 100 percent American Grown Flowers in America’s home.

When the luncheon concluded I also had an opportunity to speak to second lady Karen Pence who had made special note of my request and encouraged me, as did the first lady, to write a letter requesting support for an all American Grown White House.

I had the pleasure of joining a wonderful group at the Certified American Grown table during the luncheon. Pictured left to right is Margaret Lloyd, Kurt Weichhand, Beth VanSandt, me, Rep. Ted Yoho, Christy Hulsey, Kelly Shore and Travis Rigby. Also seated but not pictured: Bill Frymoyer, Kasey Cronquist, Tim Dewey and Jerry Hagstrom.

Honoring Mom: Field Bouquets

This month we're honoring moms by featuring some very special bouquets... bouquets we think give new meaning to our flowers. These gorgeously colorful bouquets are created everyday right in the fields. Often hidden creations that tell a story of life in the fields and the seasonality of each harvest.

These amazing 'Field Bouquets' as we call them are not often seen, they're crafted quickly and... it's on to the next one. Usually, there's little time to appreciate their beauty. And so, as a tribute to moms we're sharing of some of our favorite field creations. We love the idea of sending a special message about life in the fields through our blooms.

Happy Mother's Day!