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.

January Articles of Interest

IN THE GARDEN
Tricks to grow proteas away from their home

Growing proteas, pincushions and leucodendrons is a challenge in our part of the country, as the care you render to your usual garden plants here is rejected by the protea family.

For instance, feeding proteas with fertiliser as you would any other plant may be likened to letting a child loose in a sweet store. Unlike other plants the protea plant cannot control its uptake of nutrients - gorging itself to the detriment of the plant growth and sometimes leading to its demise.

Read more here.
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5 flower trends expected to surge in popularity in 2021

'Receiving or giving flowers and making your home beautiful will continue to be important next year,' says Larry Walshe, celebrity London florist and founder of Bloom.

'Following two national lockdowns, we have all learned that flowers are not just a luxury, but rather a necessity that bring joy, pleasure and a boost to wellbeing. The use of plants and flowers in the home is beneficial for both our physical and mental health, thanks to the air-purifying qualities of blooms and their ability to help reduce stress and anxiety.'

Take a look at the flower trends set to surge in popularity...

Read more here.
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Valentine’s Day Traditions from Around the World

The 24 hours of affection known as Valentine’s Day originated in Europe more than 1,500 years ago as a Christian feast commemorating the martyrdom of Rome’s St. Valentinus. However, the earliest known mention of Feb. 14 as an actual celebration of love occurs in 1375 AD within medieval poet Geoffrey Chaucer’s Parliament of Foules, a work that cites the 14th as the day both birds and humans are most likely to find mates.

American Valentine’s Day expressions of endearment include everything from greeting cards, love letters, and heart-shaped chocolates to a dozen roses, teddy bears, and balloons. It’s a day of marriage proposals, weddings, and nights dining out. But the United States isn’t the only country to celebrate romance. Nations around the world have spent centuries developing their own unique ways to mark love’s holiday. Here’s how some countries across the globe celebrate the day of love.

Read more here.

The Day of the Dead

Just like witches, black cats and pumpkins are typical symbols of Halloween, skulls, orange marigolds and monarch butterflies are associated with Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead. However, this annual fete, is not a Mexican version of Halloween. Though related, the holidays differ greatly in traditions and ambience. Whereas Halloween is a night of terror and tricks, Day of the Dead festivities unfold over two days in a burst of color and life-sustaining joy. Sure, the theme is death, but the intention is to show love and respect for deceased family members.

Día de los Muertos originated in Mexico and Central America where native tribes had specific days when they honored their loved ones based on whether the deceased was an adult or a child. When the Spanish arrived, this ritual of memorializing the dead became two holidays: All Saints Day on November 1st and All Soul’s Day on the 2nd. Día de los Muertos is typically celebrated on the 1st as a day to remember children who have passed away, and the 2nd to honor adults.

These ancient tribes believed that death was 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. This cycle is often associated with the cyclical nature of agriculture, like crops grown from the ground where the last crop lies buried.

The Day of the Dead is an occasion to remember and celebrate the lives of departed loved ones. It is believed that the souls of the dead return to visit their living families in homes, businesses and cemeteries. And as with many celebrations, the days are filled with music and dancing. The ofrenda, is the most recognized symbol. This temporary altar is a way for families to honor their loved ones and provide them what they love while on their journey.

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

Why Florists Are Loving Dried Flowers Right Now

The antique-inspired variety is having a moment
and it isn't just because of Instagram.

If there's anyone who knows a thing or two about flower trends, it's Chris DeMeo, wholesale florist at N.Y.C.'s Dutch Flower Line. He's privy to what all of the city's top florists, stylist, and event designers are buying and has been in the business for more than 20 years. In other words, he's seen it all (or, quite a lot). Right now, he says, dried flowers are having a moment. "It all started because people are going for colors that feel a bit antiqued with a patina to them, and there are only so many [fresh] flowers in that palette. So, people became more and more creative and started using dried elements—to give their arrangements that vintage vibe," says DeMeo.

Read more here.
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The power of flowers — how they accompany us,
heal us and ‘make us gasp with pleasure’

‘Just living is not enough... one must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower,’ wrote Hans Christian Andersen. Jay Griffiths explores their emotional pull.

‘Archangel,’ said a friend, picking one of the plentiful wildflowers in my garden and introducing me to it as to another friend.

Flowers are companions for us. They can be company in a lonely present, witness to memory and a promise for the future. They are characters: the chalk-pale, but still courageous snowdrop, the irrepressible daffodil, the flamenco-dancing fuchsia or the loyal nasturtium.

Read more here.
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Heat-Resistant Wedding Bouquets Perfect for Summer

Finding the perfect can be a challenge, whatever the season. But what about sourcing buds for a celebration that takes place, when the weather adds an extra variable to your decisions? That makes things even more difficult. If you're planning a celebration in a location known for its summer heat waves, it may be in your best interest to pick an arrangement that'll stand up to the sky-high temps.

Read more here.
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Flower power: how they improve emotional well-being, and which ones to pick for happiness at work and home

• Science shows that having bright and fragrant blooms around your home can reduce your anxiety, make you more compassionate and boost your energy at work

• One study even suggests flowers help in the healing process after hospital surgery. So which kinds should you pick for a happiness-inducing arrangement?

Ellna Yu Chun-ha loves flowers. They bring her joy and enhance the look of her home.

“Just looking at a pretty arrangement relaxes me instantly, which is just what I need after a long and stressful day,” says the safety instructor, who lives in Hong Kong. “And no matter where I place the arrangement, it has the effect of brightening up the space and making the area look more inviting.”

Read more here.

Event: CPA Member Appreciation Party

June is California Grown Flowers Month and the California Protea Association (CPA) kicked off the month-long celebration on June 1st by throwing a Member Appreciation party. The event was held at a beautiful estate in Hidden Meadows owned by the renowned local Visual Artist Pako Pablos. Pako’s artistic commentary on pop culture through the use of digital art, painting with acrylics and the creation of images in pastels has gained widespread exposure and popularity. Members had the opportunity to enjoy the estate’s panoramic views, tour the grounds and visit Pako's studio.

A delicious dinner was prepared by award winning chef Flor Franco. Garnering acclaim and a reputation for excellence, Flor has served as the Executive Chef for several award winning venues and restaurants, two Sundance Film Festivals, one Conde Nast dinner, hundreds of the world's best events, and has had the honor of designing and executing menus for Hollywood elite, dignitaries and national political figures.

It was a terrific event at a fabulous venue with scrumptious food and lots of great conversations with friends who love protea farming as much as we do!

Many thanks to Pako and Flor for their gracious hospitality!

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

Heat-Resistant Wedding Bouquets Perfect for Summer

Finding the perfect wedding bouquet can be a challenge, whatever the season. But what about sourcing buds for a celebration that takes place during the summer, when the weather adds an extra variable to your decisions? That makes things even more difficult. If you're planning a celebration in a location known for its summer heat waves, it may be in your best interest to pick an arrangement that'll stand up to the sky-high temps.

Read more here
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The Unlikely Florist is sweeping Venice off its feet with
rustic bouquets and a van named Untho

It’s hard not to fall for The Unlikely Florist’s beautiful bouquets. Spilling from a 1980 VW Vanagon, the rustic arrangements of blushing protea, ruddy South African pincushions and mustard-yellow billy balls attract people like spring blossoms charm honey bees. Small children run to the modified camper van parked outside the beachy Great White café on Pacific Avenue as if it were hawking ice cream; parents wrangle them to get a family picture. Aspiring social media influencers flock to the flora, burying camera-ready faces into bouquets that make for inspired accent pieces in requisite photos of the Venice Sign instantly shared to “the Gram.”

Read more here
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Boost the awesome power of your flowers by
buying them from local growers

THERE’S NO DENYING a flower’s power. Whether it’s the lush extravagance of a bride’s bouquet or the sweetly fragrant posy celebrating a child’s birth, the twang on our heartstrings is real.

Flowers even have a language of their own, developed by poets, lovers and the occasional passive-aggressive lout. A quaint practice begun in the Victorian era allowed shy suitors to send secret messages by means of a carefully chosen bouquet — be it one of affection (composed of carnations, red roses and heliotrope, denoting faithfulness, love and devotion), or a cleverly disguised social dagger (snapdragons, yellow roses and zinnias, with their implicit message of revenge, jealousy and absence!).

Read more here.

Arroyo Seco Weekend

The inaugural Arroyo Seco Weekend wrapped up on Sunday. Goldenvoice, the promoter of the event called this two-day festival “multigenerational,” geared toward families and folks in their mid-30s and up, rather than the typically crowd packs these gatherings. It was a festival where someone can go with their grandma, mom, sister or toddler and enjoy rock, soul, jazz, funk, and blues acts.

The Pasadena event took over the Brookside Golf Course at the iconic Rose Bowl Stadium setting up three stages for the line-up of talented musical artists and turned the rest of the grounds into an al fresco picnic and lounge area. Arroyo Seco estimates there was a modest crowd in the range of 25,000 attendees.

With June being California Grown Flowers Month, we thought this event would be the perfect place to continue the celebration. California flower farms teamed up with JetBlue and Muir Ranch for a “Flowers On Your Head” activation. Teams of photographers were scattered around the grounds and in the JetBlue Lounge capturing pictures of the thousands of people with CAGrown flowers on their heads. The crowd loved it… men, women, teens and toddlers alike joined in on the fun.