Brought to You by Water Media Launch

On the first day of summer, aboard the USS Midway the San Diego County Water Authority and partners launched the “Brought to You by Water” education and outreach program about how water fuels our county's economy and quality of life. We joined the Water Authority along with the San Diego Tourism Authority and several other community and business leaders to help stress the importance of safe and reliable water to the major industries like tourism, manufacturing, brewing and of course our's, agriculture.

“The Water Authority’s investments have helped foster a $220 billion regional economy and make San Diego a global destination,” said Joe Terzi, CEO of the San Diego Tourism Authority. “Many of our 35 million visitors a year come for our perfect climate – but the challenge of endless sunny days is that our region has few natural water resources. That’s why we support investments in water reliability that allow our industry to flourish, regardless of the weather.”

The Water Authority’s year-long Brought to You by Water program was kicked off by highlighting San Diego’s $17.9 billion tourism industry in partnership with the San Diego Tourism Authority, San Diego Zoo and Safari Park, the USS Midway Museum, and other attractions that were represented at the launch event.

In addition, the Water Authority has partnered with leaders in agriculture like Del Ray Avocados and Resendiz Brothers to showcase the importance of safe and reliable water supplies to farming. The outreach program includes a series of short videos about our county's iconic industries that will be shared on social media and advertising campaign.

During the next 12 months, the Water Authority will participate in local events, along with street fairs and farmers markets to talk about water with residents. As a way to start conversations about water, they'll take along the giant beach ball – about 8 feet in diameter – branded with the Brought to You by Water logo that was signed by guests, including Mel and I at the conclusion of the event.

To watch our video and news clip click on these links; Mel's brought to you by water video, and New Water Authority Report Highlights Safe Water Supply to learn more about the Brought to You by Water program.

Protea News: June’s Articles and Blogs of Interest from Around the World

FIELD TO VASE
DINNER TOUR 2018

American Grown Flowers’ annual dinner tour
make two stops in California in April.

On a patchwork of some 15 parcels of hilly land with rocky, dry soil in northern San Diego County, Ismael "Mel" Resendiz has carved out a floral paradise. His farm, clinging to steep, remote hillsides and linked to civilization with narrow dirt roads, many of which Resendiz himself built, defies convention. So does its signature product, the otherworldly but undeniably lovely protea. Read more here.
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Venice's Unlikely Florist grows
beyond his man-with-a-van beginnings

Like many L.A. stories, Spencer Falls’ began with a long list of restaurant jobs, auditions and the necessity of a side hustle. So when his goal to become an actor didn’t go as planned, he dreamed up an idea that had wheels — he decided to sell flowers out of his 1980 VW Vanagon on Abbott Kinney Boulevard in Venice. Read more here.
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Senate Declares July
‘American Grown Flowers Month’

Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) introduced a resolution on June 12 designating July as “American Grown Flower Month.”

The resolution notes that the U.S. Senate recognizes: that purchasing flowers grown in the United States supports the farmers, small businesses, jobs and the U.S. economy; that growing flowers and greens in the United States is a vital part of the U.S. ag industry; and urges “all people of the United States to proactively showcase flowers and greens grown in the United States in order to show support for our flower farmers, processors, and distributors as well as agriculture in the United States overall.” Read more here.

Seasons Greetings

As one season transitions into another the colors that dominate our daily harvest shift as well. The crimson, fuchsia and cream protea of winter give way to the orange, red and yellow pincushions of spring. Summer’s greens and pink protea become the saturated leucadendron and banksia of fall. Even in the nursery where seasonal changes are not as obvious the passage is visible in the angle of sunlight and feel of the air. This helping hand from Mother Nature offers us the opportunity to continually change the colors and textures found in our wreaths. In our opinion, there’s no better way to roll out the welcome mat and start a new season than with a gorgeous Protea Wreath!

In the Field: Banksia Speciosa

Like clockwork… just before the summer solstice, Banksia speciosas are once again in full bloom. Many of the soft, wooly buds have fully opened to form long, Cylindrical spikes. Leathery, saw-tooth leaves fan out in a circular pattern from each flower’s base, creating amazing natural designs. Also referred to as Showy banksia, Ricrac banksia or Mint Julep, the name speciosa comes from the Latin speciosus, meaning ‘showy’… referring to the stunning appearance of the plant, particularly its flowers.

With a refreshing and revitalizing mint-green to yellowish hue, these awesome blooms deliver a wealth of texture and height to arrangements and designs.

June Blooms: Yellow Leucospermum

Yellow is upbeat and modern, shining with optimism and joy, the color of gold, sunshine and energy. Bright yellow is psychologically the happiest color in the spectrum. Yellow advances from surrounding colors and enlarges any space. It mimics a sun-filled space, creating feelings of liveliness and good cheer.

It's pincushion season here on the farm, and we're putting the spotlight on some of the beautiful new yellow varieties being harvested. To help you distinguish between the infamous High Gold and the newer cultivars, we put together this handy chart and some close up shots to view below.

High Gold

Jacqueline

Conocarodendron

Yellow Goldie

Hawaii Yellow