Self-care is Just a Bouquet Away

When we think about self-care, it’s easy to get caught up in ideas like bubble baths or massages. But the truth is, self-care can take many shapes and sometimes, it’s as simple as surrounding yourself with the beauty of nature.

Flowers aren’t just pretty; they have a deep, therapeutic power. The sight of a vibrant bouquet can immediately brighten your mood, help you feel more connected to the world around you, and even reduce stress.

How can flowers boost your self-care routine?

1. A Feast for the Eyes: Surrounding yourself with fresh flowers or even floral patterns can instantly lift your spirits. Whether it’s a simple vase on your kitchen table or a floral print on your clothes, a burst of color and life can make a difference in your environment... and in your mood. 
2. Aromatherapy: Flowers, like waxflower or lavender, are known for their calming effects. A simple floral-scented candle, essential oil, or bath soak can help you unwind after a long day and create a peaceful atmosphere. 
3. Nature’s Healing: There’s something truly special about spending time with flowers… whether that means gardening, walking through a botanical garden, or simply noticing the flowers in your neighborhood. Nature has a way of grounding us, and flowers are the perfect reminder to slow down and appreciate the small, beautiful things around us. 
4. Creative Inspiration: Flowers have inspired art, fashion, and design for centuries. Whether you’re creating a floral arrangement or incorporating flower motifs into your daily life, the process can spark creativity and bring a sense of calm focus to your day. 

Self-care isn’t just about what you do for yourself… it’s about surrounding yourself with things that make you feel whole, joyful + connected!

Orange Flowers

Orange flowers have a magical way of making us feel connected to the brighter, more blissful side of life. Their vivid, warm hue evokes feelings of energy, positivity, and warmth... like a burst of sunlight in full bloom. Whether it’s the rich tones of a sunset, the vibrancy of autumn leaves, or the energetic fireworks-like qualities of the Leucospermum 'pincushion', orange has the power to capture attention and evoke positive emotions.

There's something inherently uplifting about orange. It’s bold yet inviting, vibrant yet soothing, creating a perfect balance that stirs our emotions. When we see these flowers, we can’t help but feel a sense of enthusiasm, and even comfort. It's as though the orange blooms are a reminder that life is full of brightness and possibility, even on cloudy days.

Orange makes any space feel welcoming and lively. It’s impossible to look at orange without feeling a sense of joy, as if the color itself is inviting us to smile and celebrate the moment. Whether it's in nature, fashion, or design, orange carries an undeniable presence that lights up our world, reminding us to embrace life with energy, positivity, and a little bit of flair.

The Beauty of Winter Leucadendron

When winter settles in, many plants retreat into dormancy, their vibrancy muted by the cold. But not Leucadendron. This striking plant transforms into a winter gem in the heart of the colder months, bringing a unique splash of color and texture to the fields.

During winter, many Leucadendron species, like Leucadendron safari sunset, take on even greater beauty. Their distinctive, almost glossy bracts ranging from rich reds and deep greens are amplified by the crisp, clear air. The contrast between the bright foliage and frigid land makes for a mesmerizing scene. What’s particularly striking about the winter Leucadendron is its resilience. As temperatures dip, it remains consistent, even flourishing in the chill. The colors of its leaves deepen, creating a dramatic effect against the winter skies. The plant’s form, tall with upright stems and topped with clusters of vibrant bracts, creates a sense of structure and elegance in the field.

Their flowers, often in the form of beautifully intricate cones, are surrounded by colorful bracts that offer a striking visual contrast. These cones can range from shades of crimson to cream, and they seem to glow, almost as though the plant itself is lighting up the winter landscape.

Winter Leucadendron is more than just a visual treat. It’s a symbol of endurance and beauty amidst the cold, a reminder that nature doesn’t stop when the temperature drops. In a world where winter often evokes images of bare trees and muted tones, Leucadendron stands as a testament to the unexpected beauty that can thrive in even the harshest conditions. Its bold colors, intricate forms, and seasonal endurance invite us to see winter in a whole new light, one that’s full of color, contrast, and resilience.

Thanksgiving Flowers: A Floral Touch to Your Holiday Celebration

As Thanksgiving approaches, we often focus on family, friends, and food. But one of the easiest ways to add beauty and cheer to your holiday celebrations is with flowers. Whether you're decorating your home, setting the dinner table, or giving a thoughtful gift, fresh blooms can infuse your surroundings with color and joy.

Consider arranging your flowers in a cornucopia basket or wreath ring to add a playful and festive vibe. These iconic vessels work well with the rustic harvest feel of Thanksgiving. When it comes to color, be sure to blend-in those rich hues of fall – from deep reds and creams to yellows and lush, vibrant greens that evoke the essence of the season.

Flowers also make thoughtful gifts for loved ones during Thanksgiving. A bouquet or a centerpiece can brighten someone's day and convey appreciation. A beautifully arranged floral gift can serve as a reminder of the love and gratitude shared during the season.

Thanksgiving is all about giving thanks, and what better way to express gratitude than through the beauty of flowers? Flowers will add a touch of nature's beauty and warmth to your celebration. Happy Thanksgiving!

Embracing the Season: Pink Ice

As summer’s heat begins to wane, a transformation is unfolding in our fields. Protea season is on the horizon, and with it comes a surge of Pink Ice that tout the end of summer and the beginning of fall. For us, this season is more than just a change in weather—it’s a time of rejuvenation, and a chance to reconnect with this exquisite protea.

The start of protea season is marked by a subtle yet profound shift. The days grow shorter, the sun’s rays take on an autumn glow, and gradually, the fields awaken from their summer slumber. Pink Ice is typically the first protea to kick off the season producing a wave of, silvery-pink buds and blooms a top the long sturdy stems. These hardy and resilient flowers are barometers of fall, signaling the start of another harvest.

If you’re inspired to bring a bit of protea allure to your designs, Pink Ice is the perfect choice. It’s one of the hardiest and most abundant plants on our farm! And… the blooms? They’re stunning no matter how you arrange them. They mingle beautifully with banksia and pincushions as well as flowers like roses, lisianthus and Sea Holly, and they’re also lovely arranged and displayed on their own.

Proper flower care is KEY in keeping your Pink Ice looking fresh for as long as possible! Here’s our top tips to keep your blooms looking and feeling their best! : 

• Unpack the flowers immediately. 
• Cut up to 1/2 inch off the stems and remove leaves that will end up in the water. 
• Store flowers in a well-lit floral (proteas prefer to rest with the light on) cooler or refrigerator between 43-50 Fn. 
• Removing a few leaves around the flower head will enhance the flower display. Note, some proteas are prone to leaf blackening and even with the best post-harvest care, it can still happen. So, if the flower looks fresh and healthy to you, just remove those leaves as well. 
• Use a flower preservative or a teaspoon of sugar for added longevity. 
• Check water levels frequently as proteas get very thirsty. 
• Keep them out of direct sunlight whenever possible. 
• Pink Ice can last weeks in a vase. Then, they don’t die… they dry beautifully! Many Proteas retain their structural design and to some extent their color. When used in dried flower arrangements or wreaths, they are as permanent as almost anything the botanical world provides.

As we embrace the start of Pink Ice season, let’s take a moment to appreciate the joys that come with it. The sight of the flowers, and their colors are reminders of the beauty that surrounds us. Whether you’re a professional designer or simply enjoy playing with flowers, Pink Ice offers a wonderful opportunity to connect with the world of proteas in a creative way.

Star-Spangled 4th of July Flowers

Beautiful centerpieces are a lot like wonderful guests. They add a festive ambiance, entice the eye, and spark interesting and inspiring conversations. With the summer’s abundance of fabulous florals, anyone can easily assemble an arrangement that's dynamic, alluring and intriguing.

Consider hosting a 4th of July gathering and set the scene with a colorful arrangement fashioned with proteas and an array of other flowers and foliage. The good old red, white and blue is a classic color combination that will never go out of style, especially if your gathering is on Independence Day. Take this arrangement for instance, the patriotic color scheme is vibrant and cheerful, and the textures convey a real “Star-Spangled Banner” theme.

The Leucospermum Scarlet Ribbon are the fireworks in this design and the white King Protea along with the Leucadendron Safari Sunset add color and contrast. Stems of Grevillea Ivanhoe and eucalyptus provide a lush green foundation. And, for a spirited touch, I’ve mingled in some spiky blue Eryngium or Sea Holly and sprigs of white Lepto Roundifolia and Jasmine Vine.

Why not compliment this year’s firework celebration with your favorite red, white and blue flowers? They'll add an extra special spark to the day and help create lasting and memorable moments for your friends and families. Happy 4th of July!

Biophilia – The Nature Attraction

There’s no doubt we’re all born with the desire to connect to nature! This deep-rooted attraction to the outdoors is called biophilia a term is derived from the Greek words for “life” and “love” making its precise translation “love of life.” Biophilia is more than just an idea, it has been found to support both physical and mental health. Since the average the person spends more than 75 percent of their life indoors, establishing a biophilia environment would have significant results.

This explains why flowers and plants can instantly invigorate your mood and lift your spirits. The calming qualities of nature can be enjoyed through soothing colors + interesting textures. And there are plenty of ways to satisfy your nature craving, and we know just how to help you bring the outside in.

As the human population grows and access to nature becomes limited, incorporating nature into your home and work environments becomes more and more important. Regular exposure to natural elements supports longevity and helps ensure that future generations will maintain an affinity with nature as well.

The Protea Attraction - Hummingbirds

Despite being stunning cut flowers, proteas not only add color and texture to floral designs, but they also attract a symphony of nature's nectar-seeking guests like birds, bees, and butterflies. Once you've had the pleasure of observing these pollinators in action, it's only natural to want to see them more often, like my favorite... the hummingbird.

Hummingbirds love proteas thanks to the flower's abundance of both pollen and nectar, especially over the long winter months. It’s fascinating to watch a hummingbird as it darts around from bloom to bloom and the dance it performs is unlike any other bird. Its bright, shimmering colors, rapid flight, and the ability to hover in midair are a few of the traits that make it so unique. During courtship dives a hummingbird can reach speeds up to 60 miles per hour and can average speeds of 20 to 30 miles per hour. It can rotate its wings in a circle and it's the only bird that can fly forward, backward, up, down, and sideways. Such high-energy movement requires that it feeds every ten to fifteen minutes. These amazing birds bring so much excitement and wonder to the field.

Hummingbirds are most attracted to flowers in shades of red and orange.

Our top 3 Hummingbird-Friendly Proteas

Protea - Sugarbush

The best-known genus of the protea family and the one for which it’s named. These flowers vary in size, shape, color, and form and rely on their showy bracts for visual appeal.

Grevillea Flowers – Bush Lollies

These lollipop-like flowers, also referred to as Bush Lollies, Bush Toothbrush and Spiderman, provide masses vibrant, textural blooms throughout the year. Their popularity comes from their willingness to flower and flower.

Leucospermum - Pincushions

Leucospermum or more commonly called pincushions put all their art into the colors of the flowers themselves as well as the flowing shape of each curving component. These fanciful blooms atop sturdy stems make for colorful rest stops (or landing pads) between flights.

The Latest Floral Inspiration

How Pincushion Protea Flowers Are Grown in California

With their striking colors, intricate forms, and eye-catching textures, pincushion protea flowers are an extraordinary addition to any floral arrangement. These captivating blooms, known for their pin-like appearance and velvety texture, have been capturing the hearts of flower enthusiasts for years.

Read more here.

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The Silver Tree

The genus is named after its most outstanding member, Leucadendron argenteum….known to botanists, gardeners and plant lovers throughout the world as the silver tree, but the early Dutch settlers dubbed it witteboom, literally ‘white tree’. In 1691 the botanist Plukenet used the name, translated into Latin, to describe the witteboom and related plants….Leucadendron, therefore, became the accepted name for this genus…

Marie Vogts, South Africa’s Proteaceae

On that projecting isthmus of land called the Cape Peninsula, at the bottom left hand corner of Africa, there can scarcely be anyone unfamiliar with the handsomest arboreal member of the protea family: silver tree or Witteboom, as it is known in high Dutch and its descendent language, Afrikaans. Always strikingly silver, it is transformed by the hot, drying, gale-force north winds of the cooler months of the year to a gleaming metallic lustre. The glory takes one’s breath away! Even the dry leaves of herbarium specimens retain their sheen, prompting Linnaeus, that first great modern plant namer, to exclaim at his desk in Uppsala, “this tree, the most shining and splendid of all plants.” I wonder if he was lucky enough to see a living specimen; the seeds were certainly available in Holland by then.

Read more here.

Growing Proteas

Did you know California is one of five Mediterranean-climate regions on the earth where proteas are grown? It’s true! And since autumn tends to be the ideal planting time… we have a few growing tips for you.

• Plant in a sunny location where the air flows freely around the plant. 
• Planting on slopes or slightly elevated mounds is often beneficial because water runoff decreases drainage problems. 
• Proteas flourish in sandy, acidic, well-drained and rocky soils. 
• Dig a hole twice the size of the pot the plant came in. Be sure to break up the soil that is removed from the hole to soften its texture. 
• Never disturb the soil around the roots. 
• Water deeply once a week for the first two years after planting. 
• Apply mulch like bark or wood chips around the plant (a slight distance from the stem) as it helps control weed growth and keeps the soil cool. 
• Fertilizers are not necessary as proteas grow naturally in very nutrient-poor soils.

Wondering how to prune your protea plants to keep them happy and ensure a bountiful harvest once they’re established? First, be sure to pick the flowers as it’s the best way to keep plants neat and compact. Remove the blooms with a good length of stem, leaving new growth behind. To encourage bushy growth… prune only the flowered stems as the un-flowered stems are next season’s blooms.

Eucalyptus Macrocarpa – Mottlecah

Evergreen plants, which have flourishing leaves or needles year-round, are often the foundation of a beautiful landscape or floral arrangement. Place them in the correct spots, and you'll frame your garden or centerpiece with a natural, leafy border. Plus, since many varieties offer colorful foliage, flowers, and cones, evergreen shrubs can add color and texture to any creative endeavor.

Eucalyptus, one of my favorite evergreen plants, is a large genus of more than 700 species in the Myrtle Family. While some species are tall trees, others have a multi-stemmed shrubby tendency like the flamboyant macrocarpa or “mottlecah” (the Aussie name). This distinctive species of eucalyptus has what Australians usually refer to as a “mallee” growth habit (varieties that are multi-stemmed, grow from an underground rootstock and thrive in harsh conditions).

It’s obvious why this amazing plant is celebrated for its grayish-white or bluish-white leaves and its long, sturdy branches… they make for a stunning display both in the field and in floral designs.

The usual flowering time for macrocarpa is typically late winter through spring. For months before the flowering commences, the silver dollar sized buds are visible as white domes with pointed tips, and within is a cluster of stamens. As the stamens expand, they pop off the white cap and provide a splash of bright red and yellow. The gum nuts which follow the flowers are also an interesting feature of the tree… they’re very large and have a powdery grey covering.

A Time of Remembrance: Dia de Los Muertos

November 1st and 2nd, people around the world celebrate The Day of the Dead also known Dia de los Muertos. It is believed that during these two days, the souls of the dead come back to visit their living loved ones.

Dia de Los Muertos is a time for families and friends to pay tribute and send love to those who are no longer on Earth. Unlike Halloween the day before, this celebration is not about terror and tricks but instead, it is a time of remembrance.

Unfolding in a burst of color and life-sustaining joy, the fete is not limited to a few main colors like black and orange: it's a delightful display of vibrant hues like bright purples, pinks, orange, blues, white, and black. During this time, people journey to their family burial grounds and decorate their loved one's graves or ofrendas (alters) in a festive and fun way. Portraits of the deceased, along with items that belonged to them or they enjoyed (like a favorite beverage or snack) are included in the decor.

The cempasúchil, a variety of marigold flower native to Mexico, is often placed on ofrendas and around graves. Their vibrant color petals are used to make a path that leads the spirits from the cemetery to their families’ homes. Plus, the marigold’s distinct smell when paired with the right kind of candle, allows the departed to return for a brief time to enjoy the pleasures of the world they left behind once more.

Death is considered part of the journey of life. Rather than death being the end of life. Families view death as the beginning of the cycle of seasons and new life.

In the Field: Protea Aristata

Ready for a big “did you know” protea moment? To make summer in the fields a little more colorful, check out the, beautiful, Protea aristata that blooms in hot, dry conditions from June through August. We’re taking a deep dive into the wonders of aristata – a favorite summer protea – with information you’ll want to know and share.

Protea aristata (aristata = sharp-tipped leaves), was first collected in 1928 near the town of Ladismith in the Cape Province. Although thought to be common in the Seweweekspoort region, aristata could not be found again until 1953, prior to which it was believed for quite some time that it had become extinct. Aristata, also known as Ladismith sugarbush, Ambassador sugarbush, small pine sugarbush and Christmas sugarbush, has become one of South Africa's most famous proteas despite its relatively late 'discovery'.

This distinctive protea has unusual pine-needle like foliage which provides a lovely background to its striking large and bright crimson flowers. And, of course when harvested, aristata beckons. It’s simply stunning when mixed in bouquets and arrangements.