Falling for Pink Ice

Fields bursting with these vibrant, pink blooms is one of the best things about fall. Pink Ice is autumn to a 'T' and simply stunning! The goblet shaped flower is surrounded by fuzzy silvery-pink bracts that overlap and a beautiful rose-colored central dome with a splash of wine at the tip.

Pink Ice (a mix of P. Neriifolia x Susannae) is one of the hardiest and most abundant plants here on the farm! And… the bloom? It’s fabulous no matter how you arrange it. You'll love combining Pink Ice with an array of other seasonal flowers like amaranths, dahlias, zinnias plus, foliage like leucadendron, grevillea and eucalyptus. So, to celebrate the arrival of these beauties, I’m sharing a few of my pairings that will hopefully stir your creativity and get you 'falling' for Pink Ice too.

A shift in season = your reason to indulge in Pink Ice and set the TONE for Autumn!

Fabulous Foliage: Eucalyptus

Native to down under, there are over 900 species of eucalyptus trees. The name eucalyptus comes from the ancient Greek words eu meaning “good” and kalypto meaning “cover”. And besides being known as a koala bear’s favorite treat, the foliage is also loved for its soothing scent and interesting shapes and textures. Ranging from silver dollar sized, to slender, to long and oval-shaped, eucalyptus foliage is instantly recognizable. The leaves can be blue to green and silver, and often have a waxy coating that makes them appear frosted.

Eucalyptus, with a calming quality that evokes nature, optimism, and growth, is popping up just about everywhere (displays, centerpieces, bouquets, garlands, and wreaths). This wonderful foliage adds so much volume, texture and height to décor while emitting its own kind of botanical magic.

Here are a few of our fall favorites.

Blue Gum

Willow or Feather

Silver Dollar

Big Star Seeded

Diamond

Silver Dollar Seeded

3 Gorgeous Autumn Banksia

Within the wonderfully diverse world of proteas, the Banksia ranks among the best known and most spectacular genera of the Australian Proteaceae. Comprising of around a 178 species, plus 19 naturally occurring varieties, these amazing plants are extremely popular for their colorful flower spikes and foliage. Far from a delicate flower, yet when it blooms, this bristly protea’s vibrancy and textures are unrivaled. The styles form an inflorescence made up of hundreds of tiny flowers that open from the base, giving it a fluffy appearance.

Unlike many of southern Australian wildflowers the main flush of Banksia come not in spring but in autumn and winter. To help you distinguish between a few of the species, we’re highlighting three of our fall faves: Banksia hookeriana, prionotes and victoriae.

Hookeriana or also referred to as Eneabba Banksia or Hooker's Banksia. This species’ long-stemmed, decorative orange flower is up to 5” or more in length developing from grayish-pink buds.

Prionotes or also called Acorn Banksia, Orange Banksia, Golden Bankisa or Orange Frost. This autumn favorite has large acorn-shaped flower spikes (hence the name) 6 to 8” long in cream and orange hues, opening from small silvery-white buds. The long stems and long, slender foliage contributes to flower’s stunning texture.

Victoriae or also named Woolly Orange. This Banksia starts as an intriguing woolly, greyish-white bud and becomes a brilliant orange as the styles open out. Victoriae blooms range in size from 6 to 10" in length and 5" in diameter and have fabulous, serrated foliage on long rigid stems.

Creating a fall arrangement is as simple as getting the right materials and mixing them together. The combination of banksia, protea, leucadendron, fruited branches and more provides a variety of colors, shapes, and textures that instantly makes the arrangement look complete.