Proteas and Pumpkins Pair Perfectly

Oh, my GOURD! I don’t mean to scare you, but Halloween is just around the corner. Creating an arrangement using a pumpkin and proteas is a delightful way to celebrate the holiday and the season. While we typically associate pumpkins with Halloween, they are suitable for so much more. Left whole, they can sit at many angles to give everyone at the table a beautiful view. These shapely gourds are a symbol of abundance, and when cut open, they make perfect containers for fabulous fall flowers.

Ready to 'treat' yourself and make your own gourd-geous centerpiece?

Choose a pumpkin with a fresh, healthy stem, no bruises, and a flat bottom so it won't roll. Cut off the top and set it off to the side. Scoop out all the seeds and pulp. Place a block of floral foam in water and wait until it is completely saturated. Then insert the foam inside the pumpkin, leaving just a few inches between the top surface of the foam and the rim. Insert flowers and foliage directly into the foam, working all around the perimeter of your pumpkin. In my design, I chose a mix of proteas, grevillea flowers, everlastings, amaranths, Australian pine, eucalyptus and a textural lotus pod.

Spring Protea Pairings

Ready to add allure to your day and seasonal decor? You're in luck. With Leucospermum ‘pincushions’ turning a centerpiece into mesmerizing display is a breeze. Especially right now as they’re zooming into bloom, and there's so many amazing varieties to choose from. This arrangement features Sunrise that flaunts two lovely shades of orange, and Tango that boasts a bend of red and orange. Both pincushions pair perfectly with protea Nitida and Grandicolor, the textural banksia and vibrant flowering Leucadendron. And, for a playful touch, a few stems of yellow Grevillea flowers and Ivanhoe are mingled into the fushion.

The results make for a vivacious centerpiece with a tropical-feel and put a spring-ready twist on these amazing proteas. The orange and neutral shade palette adds a sense of softness that resonates with springtime and the new beginnings.

Materials

• Leucospermum ‘pincushion’ Sunrise and Tango 
• Banksia Candles and Integrifolia 
• Protea Grandicolor 
• Protea Nitida 
• Grevillea flowers 
• Grevillea Ivanhoe 
• Leucadendron Maui Sunset and Red Devil 
• Eucalyptus Pavifolia 
• Round ceramic container 
• Clippers 
• Waterproof floral tape

Steps

1. Create a tape grid across the top of your vase using waterproof floral tape. 
2. Begin designing your arrangement by creating a base of the eucalyptus Parvifolia foliage. 
3. Continue to build the base by adding Grevillea Ivanhoe. 
4. Once you have a nice base and shape, insert the pincushions. Make sure to cut the stems at an angle to allow maximum water absorption. 
5. Next, insert the protea and banksia randomly around the arrangement. 
6. Add color and a new texture with the yellow Grevillea flowers and Leucadendron.

Proteas Designed with a Spring-Ready Twist

In springtime proteas abound, which makes them easy to include in your everyday decor. Among the season’s most beloved proteas are pincushions and banksia with warm color palettes in lively hues of orange, yellow and green.

For this spring protea arrangement, I mixed bold, hardy Leucopsermum Flame Giant + Brandi dela Cruz and Banksia Speciosa with some roses, alstroemeria, yarrow and eucalyptus. And, for a playful touch, I added a delicate stem of foxglove. The results made for a vibrant centerpiece with a tropical-feel and put a spring-ready twist on the proteas. The sherbet color palette added a sense of softness that resonates with springtime and the new beginnings.

Materials

• Leucospermum ‘pincushion’ Flame Giant and Brandi dela Cruz 
• Banksia Speciosa 
• Orange roses 
• Purple yarrow 
• Alstroemeria 
• Foxglove 
• Eucalyptus Baby Blue 
• Eucalyptus Blue Gum 
• Round ceramic container 
• Clippers 
• Waterproof floral tape

Steps

1. Create a tape grid across the top of your vase using waterproof floral tape. 
2. Begin designing your arrangement by creating a base of the eucalyptus Blue Gum foliage. 
3. Continue to build the base by adding the Leucospermum and Banksia. 
4. Once you have a nice base and shape, insert the roses. Make sure to cut the stems at an angle to allow maximum water absorption. 
5. Next, insert the alstroemeria and yarrow stems randomly around the arrangement. 
6. Add color and a new texture with the mint green eucalyptus Baby Blue. 
7. For the final touch, use a stem of foxglove to bridge the color palette of the arrangement. Keep the stem long so that the bell-shaped flowers perch up over the arrangement.

Flowers truly feed the soul!

Holiday Wreaths

It's that time of year when life comes full circle. We reunite with family and friends to reminisce about old memories and slowly… those memories give way to new ones. As guests arrive at your door, there's one captivating way to welcome them: a wreath. Early civilizations used wreaths, symbols of the circle of life, to celebrate special occasions. They were creative in their materials using a variety of evergreens, which survive harsh winters and signify immortality as well as the strength of life. And there’s no reason you shouldn't be creative as well. These days, a wreath can live throughout the year, bringing welcoming cheer to any door, wall, hearth or gate.

The wreaths we craft are typically made of protea, banksia, grevillea, leucadendron, eucalyptus and cones or pods but any material from the store, farmers market or garden will work. Even a few flourishes (like stems of protea) can easily enhance a nursery-bought wreath into a personalized creation. They are beautiful to hang indoors or out, and most will dry beautifully, so you can keep them on display long after the holidays.

Create a new tradition this year by crafting your own holiday wreath… you'll enjoy it for months or possibly even years to come. Here are a few of our favorites from the year nearly past…2022!

Connected to Nature With Dried Flowers

In the midst of a pandemic, all roads seem to point towards a life that is more connected to nature and eco-friendly. It might be a trend, but it’s not one that will go out of style. Living sustainably means adapting our lives so that we avoid further depletion of our natural resources.

This earthy connection has become quite evident as we're seeing more organic, natural colors and textures being used in floral design. Dried flowers provide another way to bring nature and simplicity into our homes and lives.

Instead of thinking of dried flowers as a substitute for fresh flowers, we can think of them as a complement to the fresh flowers. Dried flowers expose us to a whole new universe of color palettes and textures, expanding the range of choices for use in designs. When looking for colors that are antique and muted, dried flowers can fit the bill perfectly. You can create a design using only dried flowers or use them together with fresh flowers to create a more dynamic arrangement.

How to Dry Your own Flowers…
Start by removing any excess leaves from flowers and cut stems to your desired length. Then, hang them in a dark area like a closet to help them retain their color. Blooms can be hung individually or bundled together, but do not overcrowd any bunches. If you are in a humid area, try hanging a paper bag over the flowers while they dry, it will absorb any moisture released from the flowers during the drying process and keep dust off the blooms. Let them hang undisturbed for three weeks or until they’re completely dry. And always dry more than what you need.

Event: Fall Wreath Workshop

With just a day left in the countdown to the autumn equinox, we (including several of our furry farm friends) were feeling especially festive here on the farm. The timing was perfect as we held our annual fall wreath making workshop on a warm sunny Saturday afternoon. To start, guests toured the packinghouse, greenhouse and nursery, and some even gathered tidbits of flowers and greens to include in their own special creation. Our talented crew eagerly demonstrated the art of wreath making – so all who watched would be prepared to craft something of their own. The office was stocked with all the necessary fall accessories…. pumpkins, Indian corn, mums and of course, proteas along with some savory treats to eat and drink. Here are some of our favorite photos from the workshop!