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!

Fashioning Protea Ornaments

When it's time to decorate for the holidays this year, you may be devoted to your favorite store-bought decorations that have been tucked away in your garage all year long. While they’re a nice way to jolly up your home, we think designing and fashioning your own ornaments can be a more creative way to decorate. Whether you're already in the ‘elf mode’ or want to hold off on making anything until you've picked out your tree, there's never a wrong time to start thinking about creating some unique, homemade ornaments.

That brings us to our favorite holiday décor. Yep... you’ve guessed it once again, proteas! Did you know proteas are ever-flowers? With proper post-harvest care, blooms can last weeks in a vase. Then, they don’t die… they dry beautifully! Many Proteas retain their structural design and to some extent their color. When used in crafts, like ornaments, they are as permanent as almost anything the botanical world provides. The best part? Our favorite ornaments can be enjoy during the holidays and long after the season ends. So, if you're tired of those old store-bought decorations, we suggest you take a peek at these sweet angels.

When protea blooms find their ultimate place in a dried decor, they finish a story that began in Gondwanaland and triumphed over a thousand adversities. They represent a special kind of bond, a link to the past and a reminder of the present and how new life springs eternal.

Protea Pinita

Protea Pinita... here to spice up your the holiday season! This gorgeous protea hybrid is a blend of magnifica or queen + longifolia. Think LARGE bloom with a slightly waxy appearance and bracts that are flushed and tipped in a bright ‘chili-pepper pink’ then shading to light cream at the base. The central peaked dome is heavily tipped with black, providing a robust and appealing contrast.

Pinita looks fabulous mixed with other protea or combined with an array other colorful flowers and foliage. SO FESTIVE. A touch of royalty but also fluffy and soft... the perfect holiday bloom. Tip? Pinita looks stunning in any arrangement, bouquet or wreath!

Autumn Inspiration: Pumpkin Art

The vibes your autumn decor gives off depends entirely on what you pair them with. 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. Cut open, they make excellent containers for flowers when hollowed out. While most popular in hues of orange, white and green, pumpkins offer wonderful options for color schemes, especially when they are paired with protea and other unique botanicals.

Here is what you need to make your own:

• Fresh pumpkin 
• Knife 
• Clear plastic sheet or container 
• Chicken wire or Floral foam (optional) 
• Flowers, foliage, berries, cones, fruit 
• Clippers 
• Spray paint (optional)
  

Make it!

Carve your pumpkin so that you have a wide opening near the center of the pumpkin. Scoop out the seeds and pulp. Line the inside of the pumpkin with a sheet of plastic or container. If desired, cut a piece of floral foam with the knife to fit inside the pumpkin. Choose flowers and foliage with strong straight stems (proteas are perfect)! Insert the chicken wire or pre-soaked floral foam into the pumpkin and create your arrangement. Start with foliage, then add flowers, fruit, and other embellishments to create a full and interesting centerpiece.

Combining pumpkins with flowers delivers a festive yet elegant take on seasonal decorating: they make perfect porch displays for Halloween, lovely Thanksgiving centerpieces or even wonderful gifts.

A Wreath

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, mantel, wall 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…2019!

Protea, Wreath,

Simply Gourd-geous Centerpieces

Because they’re both born in the garden or on a farm, pumpkins and flowers pair perfectly in centerpieces and displays, especially when the pumpkin stands in for a traditional container. Plus, there’s a bounty of pumpkin varieties to choose from, white ones, green ones, speckled ones, tall ones and squat ones... hundreds of pumpkin varieties exist. Bright colors, interesting shapes and an array of textures make them ideal containers. And, they are watertight, at least for the duration of the vase life of most of the blooms you put in them.

Pairing pumpkins and flowers (especially protea) delivers a festive yet elegant take on fall decorating: they make perfect porch displays for Halloween, lovely Thanksgiving centerpieces or even wonderful gifts.

Here’s what you need to make your own:

• Fresh pumpkin 
• Knife 
• Clear plastic sheet or container 
• Floral foam (optional) 
• Flowers, foliage, berries, fruit 
• Clippers

Make it!

Carve your pumpkin so that you have a wide opening near the center of the pumpkin. Scoop out the seeds and pulp.

Line the inside of the pumpkin with a sheet of plastic or container.

If desired, cut a piece of floral foam with the knife to fit inside the pumpkin. Soak the foam in water while you prepare your flowers.

Choose flowers and foliage with strong straight stems (proteas are perfect)!

Insert the floral foam into the inside of the pumpkin and create your arrangement. Start with foliage, then add flowers, fruit, and other embellishments to create a full and interesting centerpiece.

Flower News: July’s Stories of Interest from Around the World

Gardening | Enduring love affair with pretty proteas

Proteas are often admired in floral arrangements and are bought for their ability to last several weeks in a vase.

Because they are related horticulturally to a large group of Australian native plants, including banksias, grevilleas and waratahs, they require similar growing conditions. They have a low tolerance for artificial fertilizers. Applications of superphosphate will kill proteas.

However, they require magnesium, and this can be applied as Epsom salts, scattered over the root areas and then watered in well. Spring is an ideal time in which to do this.

Read more here.
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A Floral Trend We're Loving: Garland Wedding Bouquets

If you've been searching for nontraditional bridal bouquet options, you've probably come across a few creative alternatives. Chances are, you've even stumbled upon one of our favorite new bouquet iterations—the garland. These trailing, flower-studded vines first gained popularity on wedding tablescapes, as substitutes for more traditional floral centerpieces. They've now migrated on over to the bouquet sphere, and we're so glad brides and florists alike have helped make it happen.

Read more here.
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Protea Christmas Angels

Shirley Bovshow stops by to create Protea Christmas Angels for the holidays.

If you enjoy craft projects, you can use your dried flowers as natural material for sculptural inventions. Protea by themselves or in a combination with other natural elements, decorative objects, and foraged finds, make creative ornaments, dolls and other decorative objects.

When protea blooms find their ultimate place in a dried arrangement or ornament, they finish a story that began in Gondwanaland and triumphed over a thousand adversities. They represent a special kind of bond, a link to the past and a reminder of the present and how new life springs eternal.

Read more here.