September Articles of Interest

A horticulturist's guide to Australian native plants

Why natives? Well that’s our specialty at the Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan and we are here to share what we know about native plants, encourage home gardeners to grow them and celebrate their unique beauty with the world.

The horticulture team at the Garden carefully look after the incredibly diverse native plants that are found across the woodlands, grasslands, rainforests, horticultural displays and new seedlings in the Nursery - encompassing 416 hectares of land.

Read more here.
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CA GROWN proclaims October
as Farmer and Farmworker Month

CA GROWN has announced that the first-ever California Farmer and Farmworker Month will be recognized in October. It is a fitting tribute in a most challenging year.

When COVID-19 hit, farmers, farmworkers and the entire food and ag value chain moved swiftly and effectively to redirect supply lines from foodservice to retail and on-line platforms where possible. They increased contributions to food banks to avoid waste at a time we faced a substantial increase of need. They learned on the fly, securing personal protective equipment (PPE) and implementing operational and scheduling changes to keep workers safe. No segment of our society has handled the abrupt disruptions flawlessly, but through it all, agriculture has maintained an adaptive, creative, can-do approach.

Read more here.
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30 Orchid Bouquet Ideas for Brides and Bridesmaids

Show-stopping arrangements to carry down the aisle.

Orchids are one of the most popular wedding flowers, and for good reason. “They’re versatile and make a big impact in bouquets and other floral designs,” says Drew Rios of Roque & Fox Floral Co. in Los Angeles.

Another reason? Orchids come in a wide variety of colors, sizes, and shapes, making it easy to incorporate them into weddings of every style. That said, some varieties are more popular than others. “Phalaenopsis orchids and cymbidium orchids are hands-down favorites of many brides," Rios says. "Their front-facing forms provide an eye-catching moment in a bouquet.”

Read more here.

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.

San Diego Farm & Nursery Expo

Cultivating Answers for Southern California Agriculture

When it comes to farmers, nurserymen, and industry professionals we always enjoy sharing and exchanging information about protea farming in California. And what could be a better opportunity then rallying with the California Protea Association and our friends at the San Diego County Farm Bureau for the 4th annual Farm and Nursery Expo held at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. This educational event brought farmers and vendors together to network and meet with top researchers and authorities who provided attendees with lots of valuable resources. In addition, seminars were held on a variety of topics such as water runoff regulations, labor issues, squirrel & gopher management and more.

Protea News: June’s Articles and Blogs of Interest from Around the World

FIELD TO VASE
DINNER TOUR 2018

American Grown Flowers’ annual dinner tour
make two stops in California in April.

On a patchwork of some 15 parcels of hilly land with rocky, dry soil in northern San Diego County, Ismael "Mel" Resendiz has carved out a floral paradise. His farm, clinging to steep, remote hillsides and linked to civilization with narrow dirt roads, many of which Resendiz himself built, defies convention. So does its signature product, the otherworldly but undeniably lovely protea. Read more here.
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Venice's Unlikely Florist grows
beyond his man-with-a-van beginnings

Like many L.A. stories, Spencer Falls’ began with a long list of restaurant jobs, auditions and the necessity of a side hustle. So when his goal to become an actor didn’t go as planned, he dreamed up an idea that had wheels — he decided to sell flowers out of his 1980 VW Vanagon on Abbott Kinney Boulevard in Venice. Read more here.
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Senate Declares July
‘American Grown Flowers Month’

Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) introduced a resolution on June 12 designating July as “American Grown Flower Month.”

The resolution notes that the U.S. Senate recognizes: that purchasing flowers grown in the United States supports the farmers, small businesses, jobs and the U.S. economy; that growing flowers and greens in the United States is a vital part of the U.S. ag industry; and urges “all people of the United States to proactively showcase flowers and greens grown in the United States in order to show support for our flower farmers, processors, and distributors as well as agriculture in the United States overall.” Read more here.

Behind the Scenes: Brought to You By Water

Brought to You by Water is a new outreach and education program by the San Diego County Water Authority and its 24 member agencies to raise awareness about the vital importance of safe and reliable water supplies to San Diego County’s economy and quality of life.

Tourism, Manufacturing, Brewing and Agriculture are four of the top industries, and they power our $220 billion economy – the 16th largest regional economy in the country. These industries help make San Diego County a thriving destination.

The Brought to You by Water program offers a new platform for promoting iconic local industries and building exposure by aligning them with a cause that everyone supports – clean, reliable water. Resendiz Brothers was one of the eight industry partners selected to participate in this program. Promotional materials created will be used online and during live events attended by elected officials, media, business leaders and water experts, starting with a launch event near Memorial Day and continuing into 2019. The program will offer opportunities for businesses and industries to promote achievements in water-use efficiency and the importance of maintaining San Diego’s water infrastructure.

Take a look behind-the-scenes at our day spent with the San Diego County Water Authority.

Thank you to Amy Clay and the crew from the color bar for making this field trip a fun and worthy adventure. We can’t wait to see the video!

A Floral Feast at the End of Rainbow

The 2018 American Grown Field to Vase Dinner Tour made its first stop of the season in Fallbrook, CA on a glorious spring day. These amazing dinners are fun and quite informative and of course, they allow you to cozy up to more flowers than you could ever imagine! The idea behind these ‘floral feasts’ is to bring America’s Flower Farming Families and the surrounding community together for a relaxing and enjoyable evening, all while becoming a bit more informed about agriculture and the importance of buying local.

Resendiz Brothers is located just east of the Southern California coast where a light sea breeze mixed with steep, rugged terrain will never leave you the same. Guests dined on a remote pad situated high up in the hills of Rainbow where colorful pincushions were blooming as far as the eye could see.

During the reception guests mingled while sipping on champagne and nibbling on savory hors d’oeuvres of Endive Spears, Spicy Gingered Carrot Soup and Agave Glazed Pork Belly prepared by Chef Teegan Smith, of Crown Point Catering.

Guests were encouraged to create their own unique floral accessories at a boutonniere bar, make friends with two adorable kids (goats, of course) and to take advantage of the fabulous floral photo props… the limo and a rustic motorcycle cart filled with awesome blossoms, protea wreaths and incredible views.

Special name cards were created and tucked tightly in Banksia integrifolia cones, so guest could save their favorite spot at the table.

Dinner began with a pre-set Bibb Lettuce Salad with the rest of the meal being served Family Style. Platters of Boneless Short Rib with Smoked Gouda Yukon Gold Mash, Farm Ratatouille, Creamy Polenta and fresh Vegetables were passed down the table and savored by all. Geyser Peak Winery provided the red and white wine that perfectly complimented every dish. Truly a fabulous feast.

The evening ended with abundance of ‘Dinner Favors’, swag bags full of floral treats, protea bouquets and even the centerpieces and wreaths going home with everyone.

To see all the upcoming dates and locations for the next Field to Vase Dinners click here. If you are anywhere near these locations, don’t miss the experience!