Paws-itively Stunning: Kangaroo Paws 🐾🌿

Native to Australia, Anigozanthos get their common name Kangaroo Paws from the quirky shape of their tubular flowers, which resemble the paw of a kangaroo. Each flower is covered in soft, velvety fuzz and curls in a way that says, "Look at me!"

These perennial beauties are part of the Haemodoraceae family. They thrive in warm, dry climates and are loved by gardeners, landscapers, and hummingbirds alike.

If you're into color, prepare yourself. Kangaroo paws come in an eye-popping range of shades, like:

❤️ Big Red – For a blast of excitement and energy.

💛 Golden Yellow – Brilliance that radiates like sunshine.

❤️ Bush Pearl – A romantic pink that’s soft but never shy.

💚 Green Jade – An earthy green with a futuristic vibe.

🧡 Orange – Like a sunset wrapped in velvet.

💜 Purple – For a little touch of mystery.

Kangaroo paws aren’t just pretty… they're practical. Their tubular flowers are made for birds and bees, making them a magnet for pollinators. Hummingbirds and bees, all flock to these fuzzy flowers like it's a buffet.

Don’t let their dazzling appearance fool you, kangaroo paws are hardy. They love full sun, tolerate drought, and once established, need minimal pampering. Just a little pruning and they’re off blooming again.

🌱 Growing Tips for Pawesome Success

• Sunshine? Yes please! These are full-sun divas. 
• Water? Keep it moderate. They like to dry out a bit between drinks. 
• Soil? Think sandy and well-drained. No soggy paws! 
• Pruning? Be bold. Cut back the old flower stalks to encourage more blooming.

So next time you're looking for something a little wild, and a whole lot wonderful… make a little room for kangaroo paws – they’re paws-itively stunning!

Welcoming the Chamelaucium: The Start of Waxflower Season in California

Like clockwork… just before the winter solstice, we’re seeing first hints of spring begin to grace the fields, one of our favorite seasons is upon us: Chamelaucium season! This aromatic beauty, often referred to as waxflower, bursts onto the scene with a delightful array of colors and fragrances that signal the arrival of a new season.

Originating from Australia, these delicate, cup-shaped accent flowers ranging in hues from soft pinks, whites to deep purples and even bi-colors. Beyond their aesthetic appeal, waxflowers are also cherished for their unique waxy petals, which create a stunning visual while providing longevity in floral designs.

Waxflowers typically begin their bloom in early winter and continue to flourish through the spring, making January to June a particularly delightful time for designers. As temperatures rise, we see a flourishing of color across the fields. The warmer inland valley provides ideal growing conditions for these resilient plants.

Whether used as the star of the show or simply mingled in mixed bouquets, waxflowers bring a fresh, earthy scent and texture that’s simply irresistible. Their compatibility with other spring blooms, such as protea, pincushions, and leucadendron, makes them an ideal filler flower for creating lavish bouquets and centerpieces that celebrate the season.

In the language of flowers, waxflower symbolizes a love of fortune and a yearning for independence. Given its delicate yet resilient nature, it’s often associated with hope, freedom, and new beginnings. Whether you’re using it for a wedding bouquet, an event, or a thoughtful gift, waxflower can add a layer of meaning to your arrangements.

Care Tips for Waxflower 

To get the most out of your waxflower arrangements, it’s essential to understand how to properly care for these delicate blooms. Here are a few tips: 

• Hydration: Always re-cut stems at an angle before placing them in water. This ensures proper hydration and longevity. 
• Temperature: Keep arrangements in a cool environment away from direct sunlight, which can quickly wilt the blooms. 
• Cleaning: Change the water regularly and remove any wilting flowers or foliage.

Waxflower, with its delicate petals and fragrant aroma inspires creativity and adds depth to your work. With the right care and a thoughtful approach, Chamelaucium can elevate floral creations, leaving a lasting impression on all who encounter it.

So next time you’re looking to add that special touch to your floral designs, don’t overlook the charm of waxflower. Embrace its beauty and versatility.

Rotundifolia

Looking for alternatives to Chamelaucium or commonly called waxflower? We've got you covered! Consider Lepto Rotundifolia, a member of the Myrtle family and related to clove, eucalyptus, and guava. This Australian native filler flower is often referred to as Blue Lepto or Lavender Queen, and blooms in late spring when it’s waxflower relative is finishing up for the season.

With long woody stems that produce clusters of lavender blooms, Rotundifolia complements the beauty of proteas as well as other seasonal flowers. It’s versatile and can be used in a variety of ways. The long stems are excellent for adding line to an arrangement and are especially chic in oriental and contemporary designs. Rotundifolia stems can also be shaped into decorative handles for baskets, added to dish gardens or simply placed in a bud vase as a charming accent flower.

What to look for

• Buy stems in the bud stage to ensure the longest vase life. 
• Avoid bunches that are shedding or flowers that are turning brown. 
  

Flower Care 

1. Stems should be re-cut with pruning shears. The stems are very woody and may be tough to re-cut, but worth the effort as it will increase longevity. 
2. Place stems loosely in a bucket of flower food solution and place in a cool place where they will get good air circulation. 
3. Rotundifolia has a vase life of 7-14 days.

Praemorsa – Cut-leaf Banksia

We’re turning up the texture with the exquisite Praemorsa or Cut-leaf Banksia!

Wow… texture in this banksia isn’t just limited to the flower, check out the foliage as well! Praemorsa leaves are firm and leathery, with toothed margins and truncated or cut ends (hence the name). The bloom which is often seen in spring consists of hundreds of individual flowers growing out of a woody 10” long and 3” wide spike. And the colors... a wine-red bloom with tips in a blue-green and the grey-green foliage adds even more character to this superb banksia.

After flowering the bloom then turns into a hard cone of follicles that store several winged seeds. The follicles can take years to mature and open, usually needing a fire or a long drying out period. Once seeds are freed, they typically take 30 to 49 days to germinate, and four to five years (plus lots of patience) before you ever see a bloom.

A lovely reminder of Ralph Waldo Emerson’s famed words, "Adopt the pace of nature. Her secret is patience." And yes, praemorsa’s amazing textures and true beauty are certainly worth the wait!

Banksia Candles

Banksia fans, brace yourselves! Love the classic shape and texture of these awesome flowers?

Did you know, there are certain things that exemplify Australia, that are true icons of the amazing Land Down Under and the Banksia is one of them? Banksia have earned a place on this list as they can be found all over the country. Many varieties have names that describe a certain physical characteristic, like the Banksia Candles… or also known as banksia ericifolia, heath-leaved banksia and lantern banksia. This stunning variety is native to a range of habitats across two separate regions of Central and Northern New South Wales east of the Great Dividing Range.

These bronzy-orange candle-like blooms illustrate the signature qualities of this protea genus, a barrel-shape spikes or inflorescence up to 14 inches long with hundreds of tiny flowers mounted on a woody cone in corn-cob-like rows. These flowers appear during autumn and winter, sometimes lasting through to early spring. The leaves are small, pine-like, and alternately arranged on the branches.

Laurina: The Pincushion Hakea

There's nothing like discovering new flowers and foliage, and feeling the amazement that their unique colors, forms, and textures bring. Even better is the realization that these unique florals will give you inspiration and enjoyment in the years to come.

The quest to find extraordinary botanicals is part of the learning process for many florists and designers. However, we know that searching for the “new and unusual” can be quite time-consuming. So, our mission has been, and it will always be, to make as many “cool and extraordinary” proteas more accessible to all who want them.

Therefore, if you’re looking for an interesting protea to transform an ordinary arrangement into something spectacular, look no further than the Hakea Laurina. This fabulous botanical will add any extra special touch to any centerpiece with its captivating flowers and beautiful foliage.

With poofy flowers, laurel-shaped leaves, and smooth brown stems, Laurina is truly awe-inspiring and eye-catching. Plus, it has several other fitting nicknames like Pincushion Hakea, Pincushion Flower, Pincushion Tree, and Emu Bush.

The faint, honey-scented blooms are round and measure up to two inches in diameter. Bulging from the reddish balls are 120-190 spikes. The long, white spikes together with the red hue of the flower make a very unusual version of a pincushion. Laurina’s flowering season typically begins during the month of December and runs through March.

If the Laurina’s flowers are not enough to let your love for this Hakea blossom, its beautiful foliage will. The laurel-shaped evergreen leaves are so striking that the plant was named after its foliage’s appearance… hence the name, Hakea Laurina.

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.

Banksia Speciosa - Showy Banksia

As the name “Showy” suggests, this large shrub or small tree puts on quite a display with its long, chartreuse cylindrical spikes and leathery, saw-tooth leaves that fan out in a circular pattern from each flower’s base.

This stunning species is also called Green Banksia and Mint Julep due to its refreshing and revitalizing hue and Ricrac Banksia for its ridged, textural foliage.

Flowering off and on all year round, speciosa peaks June through August creating amazing natural designs to be enjoyed in both the garden and when featured in floral designs. These proteas aren’t just for pretty décor, they’re for standing out… and this showy banksia certainly does that.

Flower News: July’s Stories of Interest from Around the World

Gardening | Enduring love affair with pretty proteas

Proteas are often admired in floral arrangements and are bought for their ability to last several weeks in a vase.

Because they are related horticulturally to a large group of Australian native plants, including banksias, grevilleas and waratahs, they require similar growing conditions. They have a low tolerance for artificial fertilizers. Applications of superphosphate will kill proteas.

However, they require magnesium, and this can be applied as Epsom salts, scattered over the root areas and then watered in well. Spring is an ideal time in which to do this.

Read more here.
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A Floral Trend We're Loving: Garland Wedding Bouquets

If you've been searching for nontraditional bridal bouquet options, you've probably come across a few creative alternatives. Chances are, you've even stumbled upon one of our favorite new bouquet iterations—the garland. These trailing, flower-studded vines first gained popularity on wedding tablescapes, as substitutes for more traditional floral centerpieces. They've now migrated on over to the bouquet sphere, and we're so glad brides and florists alike have helped make it happen.

Read more here.
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Protea Christmas Angels

Shirley Bovshow stops by to create Protea Christmas Angels for the holidays.

If you enjoy craft projects, you can use your dried flowers as natural material for sculptural inventions. Protea by themselves or in a combination with other natural elements, decorative objects, and foraged finds, make creative ornaments, dolls and other decorative objects.

When protea blooms find their ultimate place in a dried arrangement or ornament, they finish a story that began in Gondwanaland and triumphed over a thousand adversities. They represent a special kind of bond, a link to the past and a reminder of the present and how new life springs eternal.

Read more here.