Field to Vase 2: A Breathtaking Canvas

There is no food quite as rewarding as the food you've grown or selected from a local Farmer's Market.  Whether you're eating out or creating your own home cooked meal, there is something so gratifying about reducing the steps between the farm to the table.  And for me, the same things goes for the flowers garnishing the table, there’s nothing more pleasing than flowers fresh from the field to the vase.

At this week’s Field to Vase Dinner in The Flower Fields of Carlsbad, California, 113 guests enjoyed an unforgettable evening amidst colorful splendor on a fifty acre canvas of breathtaking ranunculus.  It was the very first time in The Flower Fields’ history that an event like this has taken place in the heart of the blooms.

Marissa Gerlach, executive chef of Vista Valley Country Club in Vista, California, was the evening's featured chef and Bess Wyrick of the renowned Los Angeles and New York-based studio Celadon & Celery created the event's floral displays using ranunculus in every hue.

Third generation flower farmer Mike Mellano, the evenings host who so generously provided the incredible venue – Canvas, personally led guests on tours of the fields and spoke about the growing and harvesting flowers.

Throughout the evening the attention was focused on the flowers, farmers and the amazing farms we are so privileged to have here in America!

Flower Trends: Confetti

What comes to mind when you think of 'Confetti'?  Small pieces or streamers of paper, plastic, mylar or metallic material which are usually thrown at parades, New Year's celebrations or weddings? 

Did you know this year Confetti is also a flower trend?  Yes, according to the Flower Trends Forecast: A Publication from of International Floral Distributors, Inc (IFD), "The Confetti event is colorful and joyful.  The expressiveness of bright hues and bold patterns create unending unique combinations that shout fun!  Tangerine, fuchsia, bright green and sunshine yellow are all part of the colors of Confetti and reflect the playful, fun personality of the event's host.  Gerbera daisies, poppies, dahlias, carnations, mums, pincushion protea and gloriosa lilies in bright colors create the expressive explosion of Confetti." 

With that colorful, joyful and fun description in mind, I felt inspired to share some of our favorite flowers and foliage that definitely create 'an expression of explosion' in any bouquet or design!

So, as they say at IFD, "Make it bright, make it playful, make it confetti." Enjoy!

California Grown Floral Inspirations: Part 2

Ready for a little more California Grown Inspiration?  Remember last spring when we shared some our favorite California grown flowers with three very talented designers and later revealed their creative designs?  Well, this summer we felt inspired once again and wanted to see what they’d craft with another season’s harvest.  Each designer received the same box of flowers and was asked to create something special.  What happened this time?  Once again three very different personalities, styles and moods were divulged - all beautiful and creative. 

The designers involved were Carmel from Mt. Lebanon Floral Shop in Pennsylvania, a Alicia from Bella Fiori in Washington and Laurie from Fleurie in California.  Each box was filled Protea Eximia, Banksia Speciosa, Grevillea Ivanhoe, Brunia Albiflora and Leucadendron Goblet, Jester and Safari Sunset. 

Here's what they created:

Carmel made a variety of wonderful designs - from a large colorful centerpiece (love the message), to a beautifully decorated street lamp, a lovely table arrangement and even a matching ring and bracelet.

Alicia created a fabulous arrangement in an elegant crystal container and a gorgeous green and burgundy hand-tied bouquet.

Laurie designed a spectacular centerpiece in a rustic wooden container.

With all these amazing designs - I couldn't help but feel inspired to grab an armful of flowers and create something special too!

Thanks Carmel, Alicia and Laurie for inspiring us once again!

Farmgirl Flowers Visits Rainbow

"Local. Sustainable. Slow flowers. These are more than just buzz words, they represent the philosophy behind the growing movement of localizing the flower industry. Plain and simple: flowers that are sold stateside should be grown domestically to support the local economy and our local agricultural communities. That’s why we’re calling it the Local Flower Movement."

- Christina Stembel

Meet Christina Stembel, owner of San Francisco-based Farmgirl Flowers.  As you can sense from Christina's quote above she's a strong and passionate advocate for domestic cut flowers.  Through her company Farmgirl Flowers, she has become notorious for sourcing and promoting only local and seasonal flowers for use in her bouquets and designs.

Lately, when Christina's not working side by side with her amazing design team in the San Francisco Flower Market, she's been touring farms from California to Alaska meeting the farmers and learning about the flowers they grow.  When Christina's travels brought her to Southern California she made it a point to stop by the farm and check out the special flowers we grow here in Rainbow.  And, during her visit we were thrilled to discover she is passionate about Protea too!  So, after a brief peak in the cooler to see what flowers are being harvested we headed to the hills to see how they're grown.  Join us on our postcard tour:

 

Standing on a rock high above the flower fields - It almost feels like you're on top of the world. 

Protea - there's so much to learn: the numerous varieties, they're seasons, how they're grown and harvested.

A trip into the fields is not complete without stopping to see the limo and yes, it's CAGrown!

Definitely a 'Farmgirl' - Christina even stopped to feed the goats! 

It's all about 'Field to Vase' and 'knowing' where your flowers come from. 

A recent Farmgirl Flowers creation!

More Peony, Protea, and Pistachio perfection...
#americangrown #farmgirlflowers 

Protea Pink Ice: From Field to Vase

The month of September marks the beginning of what all of us here at Resendiz Brothers call 'Pink Ice Season'.  Why, Pink Ice?  We'll, for the next six to eight weeks this is the amazing flower that blooms in the fields and fills our bouquets!  So, stop for a moment, relax and enjoy this photo journey from the fields to being ready for your vase!