The 2017 Farm & Flowers Guide is hot off the press and we couldn’t be more excited to share it with you. It’s a spectacular publication that celebrates the various flower and foliage varieties grown in America and the flower farmers who grow them. We hope this farm guide will help you plan your next event and let you know if the blooms you’ve been eyeing will be available!
Throughout the pages, you meet the farmers who are working hard to bring these gorgeous varieties to market… like our favorite farmer, Mel!
Enjoy a peak at several beautiful designs to get your inspiration flowing! And, you can browse the Botanical Index, a handy resource for details and images of a wide range of American Grown flowers and foliage… like beautiful protea and leucadendron from which to select.
If you haven’t received your copy in the September issue of Florists’ Review or Superfloral - Right this way to see the complete Guide.
Enjoy!
Macrocarpa is a very distinctive species of eucalyptus having what Australians usually refer to as a “mallee” type habit of growth. A species that has amazing characteristics including interesting foliage, beautiful flowers, and fascinating bark. Because of the dryness of the habitats in which it evolved, this eucalyptus tends to be extremely drought tolerant, with evergreen, often wax-covered leaves, which appear in different shapes as the plant matures. Macrocarpa’s large, bluish gray leaves are very interesting and look spectacular in arrangements.
Macrocarpa flowers from early spring to mid-summer producing blooms larger than a silver dollar, with brilliantly colored stamens in vibrant vivid pinks and stunning reds. The gum nuts which follow the flowers are also an interesting feature of the tree… they’re very large and have a wonderful powdery grey covering.
Helen Davis has always loved flowers and plants. As a young mother in Yolo County, California, she discovered the art of floral design at the local fair. Feeling inspired, she decided to try her hand at designing and began participating in the fair’s annual design competition. A tradition she has held on to for the last 50 of her 89 years. Helen further developed her design skill while working for a good friend who needed help with her home-based floral business. Over the years, she has shared her passion for flowers with her children and grandchildren… spending time training and encouraging each of them.
A few years ago, while preparing for a competition at the fair and considering using protea in her arrangement, Helen was introduced to our Facebook page when her sister shared a post. Since then Helen regularly spends time on Facebook enjoying flowers posts… especially those with protea.
We're feeling inspired this summer with a fresh take on a favorite orange Banksia: Victoriae or also called Woolly Orange. Lovely ‘acorn’ shaped blooms when they’re fully developed, Victoriae starts as an intriguing woolly, greyish-white bud and becomes a brilliant orange as the styles open out. These styles form an inflorescence that’s made up of hundreds of tiny flowers that open from the base, giving them a fluffy appearance.
Victoriae blooms range in size from 6 to 10" in length and 5" in diameter, and have fabulous serrated foliage on long ridged stems. The main flowering season is mid to late summer. They have an extremely long vase life and dry beautifully.
What to look for:
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Inflorescences with the bottom 1/3 of flowers open and fluffy.
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Clear color - Grey flowers are old.
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Avoid wet flowers.
Flower Care:
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Keep cool when possible
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Strip leaves from the bottom half of each stem
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Re-cut at least 1/2" off each stem and place in cold water.
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Never bash or split stems.
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Replace vase water every day as Banksia are thirsty flowers.
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Never mist banksias as this could cause black marks to appear.
This year Cal Poly is once again committed to source at least 85 percent of their float décor from California flower farms and be recognized as "California-Grown Certified". During the last few years this project and the 'Learning by Doing' has expand beyond the campuses. Students and administrators tour farms that donate the fresh cut flowers and greens in order to see where and how they are grown.
Float construction work has already begun on both campuses. Cal Poly San Luis Obispo students are expected to move their half of the float to Cal Poly Pomona in mid-to-late October. Construction typically continues until right before Christmas. Students and volunteers then spend the week between Christmas and New Year decorating the float with flowers and foliage.
This summer the California State Floral Association took fair goers back in time at the California State Fair in Sacramento! Sharing the stories about the California flower industry, its history, and how flowers go from the farm, to the wholesaler, to the florist and finally to the consumer.
All fair long protea were seen at the CSFA booth, used in competitions, and of course decorating the entire State Fair. However, Resendiz Brothers was the featured farm for the fair’s finale weekend. We were there sharing our flowers, our history, and information on where we are today!
Many thanks to our friends at the California State Floral Association and Flora Fresh Inc. for being such amazing hosts during our visit and to designer, Terri Berbena, for the beautiful booth display.
