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!

Fall 2014: A Season of Untypical Colors

“This is a season of untypical colors—more reflective of the imagination and ingenuity, which makes for an artful collection of colors and combinations not bound by the usual hues for fall,” said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute. “There is a feminine mystique that is reflected throughout the palette, inspired by the increasing need for women everywhere to create an individual imprint.”

Autumn is the perfect season for weddings, not only is the weather 'warm' and 'cozy' - this season the colors are as well!  With such an amazing palette of artful colors and a 'feminine mystique' I was inspired to see how floral designers were blending Protea into some of these unusual fall hues.  Here's just a few of my favorite finds: 
 

Aurora Red - a sophisticated shade that adds verve and spark.

 Ruffled Blog - From Invitation to Flower Inspiration 

Misted Yellow - alludes to the promise of spring to come.
Green Wedding Shoes - Colorful Australian Wedding

Sangria - an exotic red that evokes a sense of glamorous adventures and faraway destinations.

Green Wedding Shoes - Bohemian with an Edge

Cypress - a majestic and powerful green. 

 Want That Wedding - A Nature Inspired, Australian Native Flower Wedding

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