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.

A Guide to Keeping Your Holiday Wreath Merry and Bright

As the season’s wreaths start appearing on doors and mantels, we’re swooning over the idea of swapping the faux for fresh, festive proteas and greens. Want to help your holiday wreath stay lush and lovely for as long as possible? Just follow these simple tips:

✨ Give It a Holiday Soak

Whether your wreath is destined for the cozy warmth of your home or the crisp chill outdoors, winter air is dry… and fresh flowers need a drink. If you have a large enough container, rest the wreath in a few inches of water so it can hydrate from the back where the stems are. Let it soak for a few hours—or, for the merriest results, give it a full 24-hour bath.

✨ Keep the Cheer (and Moisture) Coming

Your wreath’s thirst level depends on its holiday home. Outdoors in cool climates, a daily misting will do. Outdoors in warm climates or displayed indoors, it will need more frequent misting or watering. Regular moisture helps seal the pores on protea and foliage, keeping your wreath supple and sparkling.

✨ Steer Clear of Santa’s Spotlight

Direct sunlight may make a space feel festive, but it can quickly dry out your wreath… inside or outside. And while a wreath can look magical above a fireplace or in a warm room, heat shortens its lifespan. These beauties prefer the chill!

✨ Enjoy & Celebrate

When the blooms begin to fade, simply stop misting and let the wreath dry naturally. Protea don’t die… they dry beautifully, transforming into a long-lasting winter keepsake that will continue to bring joy for months to come.

Happy Holidays from our home to yours!

Autumn Elegance: Proteas and Other Earthy Botanicals

As the air turns crisp and leaves blaze with color, autumn beckons us to bring more of nature’s beauty inside. While traditional fall arrangements typically showcase warm tones and beloved staples like chrysanthemums and sunflowers, incorporating proteas brings a uniquely refreshing twist to autumn floral designs. Their bold forms and striking presence add a contemporary edge to design. Pair them with the soft texture of seeded eucalyptus and the sculptural charm of rain tree pods, and you’ve got an arrangement that feels both wild and elegant, earthy yet elevated.

Protea, Leucospermum “pincushions” and Grevilleas hold their shape beautifully in any arrangement. Their textural bracts and spikes add an exotic touch, while their colors range… from dusty pinks and burgundy to deep oranges and reds, blends seamlessly with autumn’s palette.

Seeded eucalyptus brings a graceful, draping quality to designs. Its soft sage green tones and clusters of tiny seeds create texture and movement, making it the ideal filler that doesn’t just “fill space” but adds depth.

The silvery tones of eucalyptus contrast beautifully against the richer hues of the proteas, offering a cooling balance to the overall warm palette. Bonus: eucalyptus has a refreshing, clean fragrance that subtly enhances the sensory experience.

Rain tree pods (from the Samanea saman) are not your typical botanical. Their colorful curved shells add an unusual element to floral designs. Used sparingly, these pods add a touch of rustic elegance, reminding us of foraged elements and woodland textures. They’re particularly effective as a contrast to the softness of petals and leaves.

Autumn arrangements don’t have to be predictable. By choosing flowers and foliage that challenge the norm…. like proteas, seeded eucalyptus, and rain tree pods, you can craft designs that offer a fresh, textured, and dramatic take on fall florals.

Designing with the Boldest Blooms: A Spring Protea Trio

If you're anything like me, spring isn't just about soft, dainty blooms. It’s time to lean into bold forms and rich textures, and few botanicals deliver like Proteas. This season, I’m designing a beautiful, sculptural arrangement using three favorites: Protea, Leucospermum "pincushions", and Leucadendron.

This trio offers a perfect balance: the architectural weight of proteas, the dynamic energy of pincushions, and the drama of flowering leucadendron. Whether you're creating for a special occasion, a gift, or just want something gorgeous to enjoy at home, here's a composition to inspire your next seasonal piece.

The Ingredients

• 2 King Protea + 1 Protea Venus - Choose open blooms with strong color. Pink is classic, but reds or even blush-toned varieties can shift the mood instantly. 
• 7 -10 Leucospermum - Bright orange, red, or even peach hues work well here. Look for large, open flowers… these will give you the best shape and longevity. 
• 10 - 12 Leucadendron - White Tulip is a go-to for rich color, but Crown Jubilee and Galpinii add interest with their cone-like textures. These act as both line and filler, making them indispensable.

For More Texture + Fillers

• Eucalyptus parvifolia and silver dollar plus, my favorite: grevillea Ivanhoe foliage.
• A weighty ceramic pastel blue container (5-6” opening minimum).

Design Strategy

1. Build Your Form - Start by inserting your eucalyptus and grevillea foliage to establish height and shape. Think of them as the scaffolding of your arrangement. Let a few reach out asymmetrically to create movement and let them drape naturally over the vessel’s edge to ground the composition. 
2. Anchor with the Protea - Insert your protea as these are your focal anchors, so space them to lead the eye naturally. 
3. Add in the Leucospermum - Pincushions are your texture bombs. Use them to bridge the form around the proteas and the foliage. Tuck them close to the base or float them out slightly. 
4. Soften and Layer - Use Leucadendron to fill in transitions and add softness.

Design Notes

• Color: While the natural hues of proteas are rich enough to stand alone, don’t be afraid to play with tonal layering—deep red, soft peach, dusty pink, and creamy-yellow all play beautifully together in a spring palette. 
• Texture: These blooms are inherently sculptural. The goal here isn’t volume, it’s form and contrast. 
• Vase Mechanics: Floral foam or chicken wire… whatever your go-to method, these stems are woody and top-heavy, so stability is key.

Why It Works for Spring

 

Proteas are available year-round, but spring is when they shine in a design context as they aren’t just statement blooms—they’re sculptural tools too. So, if you're craving a break from predictable spring arrangements, lean into the attitude of this stunning trio.

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.

Summer Protea Pairings

Ready to add allure to your day and seasonal decor? You're in luck. With proteas turning a centerpiece into mesmerizing display is a breeze. Especially right now as they’re zooming into bloom, and there's so many amazing species to choose from. This arrangement features Eximias that flaunts lovely shades of pink and burgundy, and Prionotes that boasts a bend of cream and orange. Both protea and banksia pair perfectly with vivid Leucadendron Safari Sunset and delicate flowering gum tree. And, for a textural touch a few stems of Grevillea Ivanhoe and Honey Myrtle are mingled into the fusion.

The results make for a spirited arrangement with a energetic-feel and put a summer twist on these amazing botanicals.

Eximia, which means distinguished, is sometimes called rosespoon, ray-flowered protea, and broad-leaf sugarbush. A large, colorful protea with spoon-shaped bracts of reddish-pink and soft central dome exposing a purplish wine color.

Prionotes or also called Acorn Banksia, Orange Banksia or Orange Frost. An acorn-shaped banksia in cream and orange hues that evolves from a small silvery-white bud. Its long stem and long, slender foliage contribute to its stunning texture.

There’s no doubt Safari Sunset is the most well-known leucadendron. This New Zealand raised hybrid cultivar, this mix of L. Laureolum x L. Salignum brings a rich look to floral designs.

The gum tree or flowering eucalyptus is one of the most recognized Australian plants. Many varieties of gum not only produce lush greens, in summer they flower too. They’re not typical flowers though, as these showy blooms are made up mostly of anthers and styles, rather than petals.

Designing with King Protea

King Protea are awe-inspiring flowers, bursting with texture and perfect for designing. From stunning hand-tied bouquets to elaborate centerpieces and displays, these amazing blooms add a regal twist to designs. California King season peaks from April through June, during which time these blooms are at their showiest and most spectacular.

It makes sense, then, that few things say spring like Kings, and I thoroughly enjoy designing with them when the occasion arises. The key is to create an arrangement that highlights the character of the King you are using. This particular design features an array of seasonal proteas that complement the beauty and majestic form of the King. The Flame Giants + Brandi dela Cruz along with some Ashbyi, Pink Duke, Linifolia and Ivanhoe add vibrant color and texture, while the Rotundifolia and eucalyptus provide a welcome contrast. And, for a spirited touch, I added a little spiky Eryngium or Sea Holly. The main thing is to pay attention to the King’s shape, color, and natural tendencies—and work from there to create an arrangement that fully complements the character and beauty of the flower.

Materials 

• Leucospermum ‘pincushion’ Flame Giant and Brandi dela Cruz 
• Banksia Ashbyi
  
• Protea Pink Duke 
• Leucadendron Linifolia 
• Grevillea Ivanhoe 
• Lepto Rotunifolia or Blue Lepto 
• Eucalyptus Parvifolia 
• Eryngium or Sea Holly Big Blue
• Round ceramic container 
• Floral Foam or poultry netting 
• Clippers
  

Steps 

1. Place the floral form or poultry netting in your container and secure with floral tape.
2. Begin designing your arrangement by creating a base of Grevillea Ivanhoe and eucalyptus Parvifolia.
   
3. Place the King Protea off center in the container. 
4. Continue to build around the King with the Leucospermum, Leucadendron, Protea and Banksia. 
5. Once you have a nice base and shape, insert the Blue Lepto. Make sure to cut the stems at an angle to allow maximum water absorption. 
6. For the final touch, use a stem of Sea Holly to bridge the color palette of the arrangement.
   

Easter Inspiration: Proteaceae

Spring is here and Easter is just days away! Out of all the holidays, Easter has the most vibrant seasonal proteas to choose from. There's just something about this stunning family of flowers that makes my heart swoon and skip a beat.

So, get ready! After filling Easter baskets and planning the ultimate egg hunt, you'll want to create a festive protea centerpiece of your own. And springtime offers the most abundant array of proteaceae like Leucospermum, Leucadendron, Banksia, Isopogon, Protea and textural Grevillea flowers + foliage. Some of my favorite designs don't require fancy containers, utilizing a galvanized bucket, wicker basket, ceramic bowl or wooden box will suffice when you have such eye-catching blooms to showcase. And you can use your centerpiece as inspiration for your table settings and other floral arrangements on display around your home.

The best part? Proteas make great ‘leftovers’ as they will last for weeks after the celebration, and many will dry beautifully... so they can be enjoyed for years. To fully round out your Easter decor, get inspired by these arrangements.

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.