These chic flowers are all style… or perhaps better said, all styles. In other words, their lively, round heads are formed mainly by the long, sprout-like structures, each one ending in a globular knob called a pollen presenter. Together, the mass of styles look a lot like pins bristling from a “pincushion”, a similarity that has given rise to the popular name for this genus.
So appropriate is the name “Pincushion Protea” that it has in fact replaced the original South African name of “Luisies” which refers to the grayish-white, rounded seeds found crumpled in the dried flower-heads.
Leucospermum comprises some forty-eight species, of which all but three are endemic to South Africa’s Cape Province. Flowering time is generally early winter through late spring. Unlike flowers of the genus Protea, which rely on their showy bracts for visual appeal, leucospermum put all their art into the colors of the flowers themselves as well as the flowing shape of each curving component.
In the 1970's the University of Hawaii’s Protea Research Project started working on an exclusive collection of new and improved cultivars of pincushions. The goals were aimed at improved color, increased vase life and good stem length. The results - some amazing and gorgeous hybrids, many of which have quite complex ancestry, some with even ten species parents.
Boutonnieres are not just an accessory reserved for weddings or school dances, we’re big fans of boutonnieres for any and all occasions! The tradition of wearing flowers goes back as far as ancient civilizations like the Egyptians and the Aztecs, who were believed to wear certain colored flowers to show their support for athletes in sporting events.
Historians believe that the boutonniere ritual came about on the battlefields of civil wars in England, where each side wore a certain color or type of flower to distinguish friends and enemies from each other. Boutonnieres also were popular as lapel adornments in the early 19th century. The style of this era started to include coats that folded over at the top, revealing the inside of the buttonhole. Some people think that boutonnieres became popular for weddings and special occasions because flowers were thought to get rid of bad odors, diseases and even evil spirits.
Boutonniere Etiquette
At weddings, there are certain guidelines to follow when it comes to boutonnieres. For example, the groom should have a different boutonniere than his groomsmen and his father as well as the bride's father. And, it’s a nice idea to match the groom’s boutonniere to the bride’s bouquet.
Boutonnieres should be worn on the left lapel of a man’s suit jacket. A good jacket will have a sturdy buttonhole that will support the weight of the accessory, as well as a latch to keep the stems in place. If there is no lapel on the jacket you’re planning to wear, make sure that the designer creates an attractive stem that can be pinned onto your lapel.
As one season transitions into another the colors that dominate our daily harvest shift as well. The crimson, fuchsia and cream protea of winter give way to the orange, red and yellow pincushions of spring. Summer’s greens and pink protea become the saturated leucadendron and banksia of fall. Even in the nursery where seasonal changes are not as obvious the passage is visible in the angle of sunlight and feel of the air. This helping hand from Mother Nature offers us the opportunity to continually change the colors and textures found in our wreaths. In our opinion, there’s no better way to roll out the welcome mat and start a new season than with a gorgeous Protea Wreath!
Eucalyptus foliage is very popular this spring, from leafy garlands, to lush wreaths and verdant displays. We love the remarkable array of shapes and sizes that are found in nature, from long, thin, oval, round, feathery and diamond. These wonderful botanicals add volume, texture and height to decor. And when it comes to color, most foliage is green, simply because all photosynthetic plants rely on chlorophyll for energy. Green is considered a neutral color and can often be left out in planning a color scheme. There are many different shades of green - from light and dark hues, blue and silvery tones. Matching the right eucalyptus to colorful flowers can have a subtle but very powerful impact.
Here are some of the varieties we’re harvesting.
Eucalyptus pyriformia
Eucalyptus mimiata
Eucalyptus blue gum
Eucalyptus rudis
Eucalyptus sideroxylon
Eucalyptus leucoxylon
Eucalyptus willow
Greens so unsullied you feel calm and invigorated. Bright colored pincushions spring forth from the lush greenery like fireworks. The yellows in the fields are almost neon, the oranges are flamboyant and reds… blazing. All of this natural beauty is set against a vibrant blue sky. This is springtime in Rainbow.
Every spring, I’m awe-struck by the beauty of each varying color. I am amazed by the idea that colors so bright and pure happen organically in nature. I see colors I have never seen before, around every hillside. I notice orange and peach pincushions reaching high up to the sky as the sun passes over. Bright bi-colored blooms with long spiky red pins that reach out from their yellow centers. This is the season of amazing color and it permeates all our lives. Let it inspire you and learn what each color means.
Green has healing power and is understood to be the most restful and relaxing color for the human eye to view. Green can help enhance vision, stability and endurance.
Yellow is the color of sunshine, hope, and happiness. Yellow stands for freshness, happiness, positivity, clarity, energy, optimism, enlightenment, remembrance, intellect, honor, loyalty, and joy.
Orange is the color of joy and creativity. Orange promotes a sense of general wellness and emotional energy that should be shared, such as compassion, passion, and warmth.
Red is assertive, daring, determined, energetic, powerful, enthusiastic, impulsive, exciting, and aggressive. Red represents physical energy, lust, passion, and desire.
Blue represents both the sky and the sea, and is associated with open spaces, freedom, intuition, imagination, expansiveness, inspiration, and sensitivity. Blue also represents meanings of depth, trust, loyalty, sincerity, wisdom, confidence, stability, faith, heaven, and intelligence.
The Society of American Florists’ (SAF) Outstanding Varieties Competition has always been a great way for us to help increase visibility and demand for the flowers and foliage we grow, especially for the ‘newer’ varieties. During this year’s annual SAF convention in Maui, wholesalers, florists, designers and farmers awarded Serrruia ‘Best in Class’ in the Other Cut Flower category, and we were Thrilled!
Floral Management Magazine’s November issue states, “Attendees and judges alike had one thing – weddings- on the brain when discussing the prize-winning protea. “I love this one for its texture, white and pale pink color and vase life,” which can extend up to four weeks, said James McArdle of McArdles’s Florist and Garden Center in Greenwich, Connecticut. “I see it being a great filler in a low and lush arrangement.” Mitchell said ‘Blushing’ would be the ideal flower to show a bride who wants to blend an “edgy and cool” aesthetic with soft, feminine colors. The unique beauty also delivers in cost per stem, said Chivery, noting “the stems were laden with flowers.” Serruria, one of the most delicate flowers in the Proteaceae family, was technically extinct in the wild for almost a century until an accidental fire germinated seeds in South Africa’s Franschoek Mountains, according to Roy. “Conservation efforts in the 1960s and 70s saved it,” she said.
To learn more about Serruria and our first harvest – Click here:
What comes to mind when you think of 'Confetti'? Small pieces or streamers of paper, plastic, mylar or metallic material which are usually thrown at parades, New Year's celebrations or weddings?
Did you know this year Confetti is also a flower trend? Yes, according to the Flower Trends Forecast: A Publication from of International Floral Distributors, Inc (IFD), "The Confetti event is colorful and joyful. The expressiveness of bright hues and bold patterns create unending unique combinations that shout fun! Tangerine, fuchsia, bright green and sunshine yellow are all part of the colors of Confetti and reflect the playful, fun personality of the event's host. Gerbera daisies, poppies, dahlias, carnations, mums, pincushion protea and gloriosa lilies in bright colors create the expressive explosion of Confetti."
With that colorful, joyful and fun description in mind, I felt inspired to share some of our favorite flowers and foliage that definitely create 'an expression of explosion' in any bouquet or design!
So, as they say at IFD, "Make it bright, make it playful, make it confetti." Enjoy!
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