Flowers Keep Us Connected

In times like these, it’s more important than ever to stay connected to the people, places and things we love. Right now, staying home and avoiding travel is in everyone’s best interest. In the meantime, we have been and will continue to share and celebrate the things about flower farming here in Rainbow that bring us joy and inspiration. We can’t wait to get back into our workshop & farm tour mode and extend a warm welcome when the time is right.

Embrace the things that bring you joy – Stay connected with Flowers!

Farm Tour: The San Diego Cactus and Succulent Society

Every September, we commemorate the start of gardening season with a bountiful nursery, farm tours and protea workshops. Autumn is the best time of the year to plant perennials, shrubs and even seeds. Plants established in the fall grow faster in the spring and require less water when summer comes.

This month, we opened our farm gate and welcomed the San Diego Cactus and Succulent Society (SDCSS). This passionate group of hobbyists, researchers, and enthusiasts all share a common interest and appreciation for the uniqueness and beauty of plants. The SDCSS ‘s mission is to promote knowledge, study and interest in cacti and succulent plants through educational programs, public exhibits, a public garden, and special events.

Given the abundance of South African and Australian plants being grown here in San Diego County, having this group of 50 tour the farm and experience our day to day activities seemed like a natural fit. With the perfect mix of Proteaceae, we knew it would be the just the place for them to capture some garden inspiration.

Many thanks to the SDCSS for visiting and helping us celebrate a new season and all things protea. The love of plants is something we all share together.

Event: Meet the Growers

To celebrate the esprit de corps of the Southwest Chapter of the American Institute of Floral Designers (AIFD), we hosted the first in a series of Meet the Growers Workshops here on the farm. All floral designers and floral enthusiasts are invited to participate in these workshops as they ‘get back to the roots’ and connect with the farmers who grow their favorite flowers and foliage.

It was an afternoon of protea chat, creative inspiration, and good cheer. While touring the greenhouse, nursery and cooler, Tracy Easter, explained how the flowers we grow are planted and harvested, as well as how they journey from the fields to the markets. A hands-on workshop was the event finale, as each guest created their own beautiful bouquet or arrangement using an array of protea, pincushions, grevillea, banksia and much more.

Fall Wreath Workshop

Our kind of ‘Autumn Welcome’… Protea Wreaths! Clear skies and warm temperatures greeted guests here on the farm as they enjoyed a wreath making workshop, along with a tour of the nursery and a peek in the packing house at the dawn of this year’s fall equinox. Our favorite flower farmer, Mel, demonstrated the art of wreath making while participants eagerly contemplated what flowers and foliage they would select for their special wreath.