Maybe Pink Isn’t Just a Color

Maybe pink isn’t just a color. Maybe it’s a feeling.

Lately, we’ve been surrounded by it. Here on the farm, we’re right in the middle of protea season—mostly the pink varieties, like Pink Ice. And there’s something about seeing them harvested and brought in from the field that never gets old.

They’re bold, sculptural, and unmistakable. We often associate pink with affection, tenderness, gratitude, and love. But peering into a truck filled with pink blooms, I find myself thinking about something much simpler: how a color can change the feeling of a moment.

Not only do I enjoy seeing our trucks filled with freshly harvested proteas, I love seeing them transformed into beautiful bouquets. What feels wild and rugged out in the field can suddenly feel soft, romantic, and almost delicate.

After spending so many years living and working on a protea farm, I’m reminded again and again that flowers have a way of saying things we sometimes can’t.

They can say thank you. I love you. I’m thinking of you.

Or sometimes, simply: Look at this.

Maybe that’s what I love most about pink proteas. The color invites you to slow down and soften for a moment. And right now, as we move through the season, I’m happy to be surrounded by lots of pink

Maybe pink isn’t just a color after all.

Maybe it’s a feeling.

July Joys: Australian Native Flowers & a Surprise Summer Encore

If you're looking for unique flowers that bring texture, color, and lasting beauty to floral arrangements, our farm has been bursting with some truly spectacular seasonal blooms. This season, Banksia and Grevillea (affectionately known as Bush Lollies) have been stealing the show. Even more exciting, we're also enjoying an unexpected second flush of waxflower… something we rarely see this late in the season.

Australian native flowers are treasured by florists and flower lovers alike for their sculptural forms, incredible texture, and vibrant colors. They create beautiful focal points while adding depth, movement, and a touch of the unexpected to bouquets and designs.

Banksia is one of the most distinctive flowers we grow. Its striking cone-shaped blooms, in shades of warm orange, golden yellow, and soft green, make an unforgettable statement in everything from wedding flowers and event installations to everyday bouquets. With its bold texture and architectural form, Banksia brings natural drama while pairing beautifully with both native and traditional blooms.

Grevillea offers the perfect contrast. Its intricate, curled flowers bloom in shades of soft pink, vibrant fuchsia, rusty orange and creamy yellow, bringing elegance, movement, and a whimsical touch to every arrangement.

Together, Banksia and Grevillea create loose, organic arrangements that celebrate the beauty of nature. Whether you're styling a summer table, or simply brightening your home with fresh blooms, these Australian natives offer unmatched character, texture, and seasonal beauty.

As if that weren't enough, this season has brought an unexpected bonus.

Our waxflower is still flowering well beyond its usual season. By this time of year, we would normally have packed away the last of our waxflower, but an unusually mild spring has gifted us with a beautiful encore. Discovering fresh stems still blooming in the fields has been one of this season's happiest surprises.

Waxflower may be delicate in appearance, but it's one of the hardest-working flowers we grow. Its tiny star-shaped blooms, fresh fragrance, airy branching stems, and exceptional vase life make it a florist favorite.

One of the greatest joys of flower farming is that every year writes a different story. The weather, the seasons, and Mother Nature always have the final say, and sometimes they reward us with surprises that are even more beautiful than we imagined.

As July draws to a close, we're remind that some of the season's greatest joys are the ones we never saw coming… and that's part of the magic of flower farming.

Introducing Our New Bouquet Wrap

It’s a wrap! We’re delighted to roll out our new bouquet wrap just in time for the holidays. Inspired by all the amazing proteas we grow here on the farm… Banksia, Leucadendron, Leucospermum and Protea. Each bloom is nicely displayed on the water-resistant wrap, and it is printed in earthy tones of beige and brown to ensure it will blend with any seasonal bouquet. It not only features beautiful blooms it also names them, making it easy for your customer or the recipient to identify each protea species.

There is no doubt this wrap will be lovely for a number of things (as you won’t want to throw it away) including a gift box liner or even gift wrap paper. Stay tuned, as we will be sure to share more creative things you can do with it as the season of GIVING commences.

OLD FARMER’S ALMANAC 2022

It’s that time of the year again! Come autumn we eagerly wait for the release of the Old Farmer’s Almanac to see what the up-coming year’s weather forecast might look like. The Almanac’s weather predictions are made up to 18 months in advance, but are traditionally 80 percent accurate nevertheless.

This year, Old Farmer’s Almanac comes with a winter warning: Brrr! “Prepare for a Season of Shivers. This winter will be inundated by positively bone-chilling, below-average temperatures across most of the United States.” says Janice Stillman, the editor.

For 230 years, the Almanac has apparently been helping readers get ready for winter’s worst. However, in addition to its weather forecasts, the Almanac is also known for being informative, with a delightful degree of humor. Features include recipes that make the most of the season, along with award-winning dishes and desserts that use five or fewer ingredients. The art and science of animal tracking, plus how to read Mother Nature’s signs to choose a fishing spot. As well as, reports from small farmers (like ours – Resendiz Brothers Protea Growers), including how they fared during 2020 and continue to diversify for the future.

[View story here]

There are also monthly calendars strewed with humor and wisdom, astronomical timetables, planting guides, and tads of valuable advice that continue The Old Farmer’s Almanac’s long-standing traditions.

The Nature of Giving

The holiday season is in full swing and when it comes to gift giving, flowers are always a perfect choice. Flowers perfectly convey our emotions. It is not surprising that flowers are always present in the most important milestones of our lives. Sharing and giving flowers as a gift is a powerful act of communication with those we love, and with everyone around us.

Flowers allow you to express your unique style while delivering the freshness and beauty of nature at the same time. Your family and friends may love traditional holiday decor, but nothing quite compares to a gorgeous bouquet or arrangement. When you give fresh flowers and foliage that reflect your personal taste, it makes for an unforgettable holiday gift your friends and family will cherish.

Nature is truly the best source of joy and wonder over the holidays. Here are a few floral gift ideas that will surely bring cheer and joy to anyone!

Lovers of nature (specially proteas), it's your time to glow!

Autumn Protea Wreath

We’re starting to see early signs of fall here on the farm. We've dusted off all the wreath making equipment and ordered plenty of extra supplies. Designing and creating a gorgeous Protea wreath is one of our favorite crafts, it's like painting but with a palette of flowers, and it definitely puts you in an autumn mode! With a ten beautiful Protea, Grevillea Ivanhoe, Leucadendron Safari Sunset, Galpinii and Inca Gold as well as seeded Eucalyptus, we anxiously observe as another unique masterpiece is created.

The wreath... a symbol of welcome, eternity and a joyful spirit! When protea find their way into a wreath, they no doubt fulfill the promise of eternity, as they don't die, they dry beautifully and become timeless!

Get Hooked on Fresh Spring Leucadendron

A vibrant, bunch of Leucadendron is a delightful thing: After a quick snip off the stems and a few leaves removed from the bottom, all you really need to enjoy them is a vase. Since they are so simple to arrange, it is easy to forget that they’re basically considered the foliage side of the family of Protea. To honor this genus and some 80 species (who all share the same emphasis: the beauty of their foliage), we have gathered a few of our spring favorites.

Much as we love the traditional greens… eucalyptus, grevillea, melaleuca (they're always in season!), each year we wait for spring when colorful Leucadendron come into season. After all, what could possibly be better than field fresh Leucadendron? These proteas have strong qualities in terms of their feature-game. Their exquisite colors add vibrancy to any design. Their famed longevity means they will be relished for weeks. And who can resist the colorful cones? The petals of the Leucadendron are called bracts or modified leaves, and the true flower is the cone nestled among their bracts.

For inspiration, scroll down for a glimpse this season’s favorites.

Lennox

Maui Sunset #2

Senorita

Xanthoconus

Eucalyptifolium

Gold Strike

Rainbow Gold

Discolor

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!