Design Goals: From Bouquet to Centerpiece

You may have noticed already but flowers are certainly having a moment during this era of Covid. Nothing says ‘HAPPY’ quite like a beautiful arrangement of fresh flowers. They’re bright, colorful, and downright cheery!

However, ordering weekly arrangements might not be in your budget right now… which is why we decided to share a few tips on how to turn an simple bouquet into a stunning centerpiece.

First, you need to choose your flowers or bouquet. Selecting a mix of fresh seasonal protea coupled with colorful Leucadendron and lush greens is always a great start. Since protea have cup-shaped or bell-shaped blooms, you might want to try adding something that has a spiky look… like Grevillea flowers and it’s always fun to add a few non-protea blooms as well. So, don’t be afraid to venture into your garden or yard and see what’s in bloom or discover some interesting foliage to add more color and texture. Once you have all your ingredients, you’ll want to select your container and consider the shape and height of your arrangement.

Now… it's time to get creative! Start by preparing your flowers and foliage, strip any leaves off the bottom half of each stem so they don’t fall below the water line in the vase. You'll want to cut the flowers to different heights to create a balanced and flow. Place one stem at a time in the container and turn it as you work to ensure your arrangement looks good from all angles.

Finally, have fun with your flowers and let your creativity flow.

July: American Grown Design Inspiration

Although the New Year officially begins in January, here on the farm we can’t help but think that July deserves a little homage too. There’s something about the month, perhaps it’s the fact we’ve reached the year’s halfway mark or maybe because it’s American Grown Flowers Month… that seems to muster up a little nostalgia. With that in mind, these ‘dog days of summer’ aren’t easy to shake off. Whether you’re planning a cozy outdoor rendezvous, catching up on the latest floral trends or simply spending more time relaxing at home, we’ve created a summer inspired arrangement. A few of our usual favorites are included, like Banksia, Protea, Brunia and Leucospermum, with the foliage choices as a nod to the ‘summer essentials’ trend, as well as some fennel flowers, Southern Lagniappe, zinnias and everlasting for an extra splash of color.

Scroll down for a glimpse at our summer recipe, as we hope it will inspire you to create your own seasonal bliss!

Nature’s Window

Creating a Nature’s Window is another simple way to bring a touch of nature indoors. This trendy, chic design showcases the entire flower, from stem to bloom transforming any space into a blooming botanical exhibition.

Our arrangements are only a start. In just a few simple steps you can create your own windows; and there are many ways to display them. One idea is to place several clear vases of the same size, or even different sizes down the length of the table versus using a traditional centerpiece. Or put a vase or two on a windowsill that faces the sun, allowing the light from outside to shine through the vase and through the blooms.

1. Pour 2 or 3 inches of water into the vase. Cut the flower stems to varying lengths. 
2. Position the shortest blooms in the vase. 
3. Repeat with all the flowers, adding them by height and inserting the tallest last.

Leucadendron Tango

Banksia Coccenaea

Protea King Arctic Ice

A luxurious Protea King is the crowning glory of a design or bouquet - these chic beauties offer an enchanting world filled with color, texture, and sizes to try. But not all Kings are created equal. In fact, some varieties are so special, they take nearly a decade to create. Such is the case for the voguish Arctic Ice, a magnificent White King Protea which has proven to be one of the most popular cultivars of this coloring of the king protea. The large flower heads are almost dinner plate in size with serrated edges much like a king’s crown. A mature plant can reach up to 5 feet in height and produce up to 50 blooms a year.

The King Protea is the national flower of South Africa — but they have been grown commercially here in California for 50 years. If you’re as crazy about these majestic flowers as we are, we suggest spending a little time in this Cynaroides’ realm.

Create a Festive Fall Arrangement

Thanksgiving marks the last big holiday in the fall season. Without a doubt, it’s one of my favorite holidays because it combines so many of my favorite things – getting together with friends and family to share a savory meal and a daylong celebration centered on the bounty we receive from the earth. To get in the holiday mood, I like to fill my house with lots of beautiful materials from nature. I usually begin by creating a festive fall arrangement, a profusion of flowers in a pumpkin.

To create your own display, cut a circle from the top of the pumpkin, scoop out the interior, and insert a plastic liner with saturated floral foam. Using care to cover the raw edge of the opening, arrange stems for a lively tribute to fall.