Callistemon

Looking for Bottlebrush? We’re getting lots of requests for those textural flowers that bear a striking resemblance to the well-known kitchen tool. However, the first question that comes to mind is - Exactly which bottlebrush are you referring to? The name bottlebrush has been used to identify several Australian native plants including Banksia, Calothamnus and Grevillea.

Did you know the Callistemon are the true Bottlebrushes? This Australian genus of about 38 species is a member of the myrtle family. The soft flower spikes are made up of hundreds of individual flowers. Bloom color varies between species; most are red, but some are pink, mauve, yellow, green, orange or cream, and many species have two or more flowering periods a year. In addition, bottlebrushes are also easily recognized by the textural seed clusters that are produced after each flowering period.

Callistemon Reeves Pink is a favorite summer filler flower here on the farm. Its dainty light pink bristles and delicate mint green foliage adds wonderful color and texture to bouquets and arrangements and it even looks fabulous when displayed alone.

What to look for:

• Buy when at least half the flowers in a spike are open and brightly colored. 
• Avoid bunches with drooping tips, yellow leaves or where all flowers are in a tight bud stage.

Callistemon Care:

1. Keep in a cool location. 
2. Strip leaves from the bottom half of each stem and wash stems thoroughly. 
3. Re-cut at least 1/2" off each stem and place in cold water. 
4. Always use a preservative as this will help keep open flowers looking fresh. 
5. Replace vase water every day.

June Articles of Interest

San Diego County farmers fight
for share of federal COVID-19 relief money

Farmers who grow San Diego County’s most valuable crops may miss out on federal cash for coronavirus-related losses because some of their agriculture products — primarily flowers, nursery plants and exotic fruits — are not included in the relief program.

Read more here.
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The coastal banksia has its roots in ancient Gondwana

If you fondly remember May Gibbs's Gumnut Baby stories about the adventures of Snugglepot and Cuddlepie, you may also remember the villainous Big Bad Banksia Men (perhaps you're still having nightmares about them).

But banksias are nothing to be afraid of. They're a marvelous group of Australian native trees and shrubs, with an ancient heritage and a vital role in Australian plant ecology, colonial history and bushfire regeneration.

Read more here.
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American-grown blooms for American Flowers Week

You’re invited to join the Social Media experience and share images of #redwhiteblueflowers for #americanflowersweek (June 28-July 4). Of course, we hope everyone features local and seasonal flowers — from your own garden, or sourced from a flower farm in your area.

We love what Kelly Shore of Petals by the Shore and The Floral Source has launched as part of her AMERICAN FLOWERS WEEK promotion and we want to share it here to inspire your own floral plans!

Read more here.

June Gatherings

Everyone loves the laid-back days of summer… especially when they’re on a holiday… like Independence Day! The sounds, smells, textures and sights of summer fill the days and nights with feelings of joy and excitement.

If you are lucky enough to have a garden, potential flower arrangements to boost the ‘ambiance’ are just footsteps from your door. Otherwise, shops, roadside stands and farmers' markets are brimming with seasonal flowers to take home and enjoy.

Selecting and gathering your own flowers not only allows you to express your creative style, but they also bring the freshness and beauty of nature into your home. When you decorate with fresh flowers and foliage that reflect your unique personality, it makes for an unforgettable rendezvous that your guests will reminisce about for weeks.

To show how I expressed my floral creativity using protea this month, I created five designs that will hopefully inspire you to create your own. Cheers to June… California Grown Flowers Month!

Protea Susannae

Like clockwork… just days following the summer solstice, we’re seeing Susannae! Yes, it’s that time of the year once again when we transition from pincushion season into protea season and there’s a bounty of pink buds popping up throughout the fields. Typically, one of the first protea to arrive on the summer scene is Susannae, and it’s time to put her in the spotlight.

Protea Susannae is one of the easiest protea to grow and quite prolific summer through fall! This gorgeous flower is comprised of a large cup-shaped bloom surrounded by pinkish-red bracts with beige tints. The peaked central dome takes on a wine hue that fades into a pinkish-white at the base, looking a bit ‘shabby-chic’ when the flower is fully open. The leaves are long and dark green with a faint red fringe.

Stunning no matter how arranged, Susannae is perfect mixed in bouquets, centerpieces and especially wreaths!

Color Enhanced 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 red, white and blue hues, or add more color to the stems and create a virtual rainbow.

Color Enhanced Banksia are eye-catching flowers when combined with lively, vibrant colors and the unique bloom shape. The flower spikes provide a textured look and feel, indulging even more into the brilliance of the colors and showing them off with intensity, boldness, and flare. Banksia are hardy flowers and they dry beautifully, making them a perfect option for or almost any occasion, like Independence Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving or Christmas… the possibilities are endless.