United by Proteas - California 2025

Join us for an unforgettable experience! The XX International Protea Association Conference & XV International Protea Research Symposium ‘United by Proteas’ is slated for March 30 – April 4, 2025, in California.

Who Should Attend? Whether you're a farmer, researcher, educator or simply passionate about proteas, this Conference is designed for anyone eager to learn more about this amazing plant family and stay ahead in today's rapidly evolving floriculture industry.

Together, we’ll:

• Explore the latest trends in the protea industry from top experts.
• Connect with professionals and forge valuable partnerships. 
• Participate in interactive sessions to enhance your skills. 
• Gain insights and knowledge from IPA & ISHS experts from around the world.

Call for Speakers and Sponsors: We are currently accepting speaker proposals and sponsorship opportunities. Showcase your expertise or promote your brand to a global audience of professionals. For more information - https://www.ishs.org/sites/default/files/page-documents/onlinesubmissionauthorsguide.pdf

Ready to help shape the future of proteas?

Learn more about this event and secure your spot! 

Visit: proteaconference2025.org for details and updates.

See you at the Temecula Creek Inn!

United by Proteas

We are thrilled to invite you to XX International Protea Association Conference & XV International Protea Research Symposium: "United by Proteas". Scheduled for March 30 – April 4, 2025, in Temecula, California.

Conference Venue - Temecula Creek Inn

This conference promises to be an unparalleled gathering of protea farmers, researchers, industry leaders, and visionaries.

Why Attend?

•  Cutting-edge Insights: Explore the latest trends in the proteas from top experts.
•  Networking Opportunities: Connect with professionals and forge valuable partnerships.
•  Educational Sessions: Participate in interactive sessions to enhance your skills.
•  Speakers: Gain insights and knowledge from IPA & ISHS experts from around the world.

Who Should Attend?

Whether you're a farmer, researcher, or simply passionate about proteas, this Conference is designed for anyone eager to stay ahead in today's rapidly evolving landscape. 

 

Call for Speakers and Sponsors:

We are currently accepting speaker proposals and sponsorship opportunities. Showcase your expertise or promote your brand to a global audience of professionals. Mark your calendars and join us at the for an unforgettable experience! Early bird registration is open. Visit: https://www.proteaconference2025.org for more details and updates.

Together, let's shape the future of proteas!

Flower News: January’s Articles of Interest from Around the World

Search the internet today for “proteas wedding flowers,” and you will find an abundance of eye-catching photos—far more than just five years ago. Some will come from trendy bridal magazines and websites. But a good many will have been created or promoted by just one California flower farm.

Read more here
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Gardening: Five of the best gardens to visit around the world when you're on holiday

If you're planning your holidays and fancy taking in some gardens while you're away, here are five to savour and inspire:

Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden, South Africa: Anyone lucky enough to get to Cape Town shouldn't miss a trip to these stunning botanical gardens on the lower eastern slopes of Table Mountain. The 36-hectare nature reserve supports fynbos (shrub and heathland), forest and a variety of animals. It was the first national garden in the world devoted to a country's indigenous plants and is home to many collections, including cycads, proteas, ericas, pelargoniums and succulents. Best time to visit: January (summer), when the agapanthus are in bloom, May to October when the Protea Garden is in flower, or September and October when wild flowers bring a riot of colour (sanbi.org/gardens/kirstenbosch).

Read more here.
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Allsup: Updated weddings start with florals

It may be hard to predict what a bride will want for her wedding day, but it is likely to include gorgeous flowers. Barn weddings with rustic materials have been popular for years, but now are shifting toward 1970s bohemian styles and elegant industrial styles. Here are some specific trends brides are asking their floral designers for this year.

Read more here.
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Gardening Matters: Native plants of the Blue Mountains

The Blue Mountains National Park (BMNP), west of Sydney is one of a number of national parks that virtually surround the NSW capital in the north and south as well as west. BMNP has an area of 270,000 hectares and provides a sanctuary for a wide range of native plants. As an example, over 90 species of eucalyptus are found in the park.

This time we will concentrate on plants that have horticultural potential. Some are already in favour with local gardeners whilst others are waiting to come into local cultivation. In spring probably the most visible plant is the Telopea speciosissima, the Waratah. The large, beautiful red flower is in fact a number of individual blooms supported by red floral bracts.

Read more here.

International Protea Association: Explore the New Facebook Page & Instagram

Absolutely Love Protea? If so, then you need to check out the new International Protea Association (IPA) Facebook Page and Instagram. In September I traveled to South Africa to attend the IPA Conference and Pre-Conference Tour. During my visit I had the opportunity to tour several protea farms and meet some amazing farmers from across the globe. Feeling extremely inspired by my new friends and hating the idea that it would be at least two years before we’d meet again, I wanted to find a way to stay in touch. After reaching out to the IPA members in attendance, creating an International Protea Association Facebook Page and Instagram was the solution. It’s our hope that these platforms would provide us all a way to stay connected between conferences.

Finally, after two months, the Facebook Page and Instagram are up and running... and we couldn't be more excited.

Since 1984, the IPA has served as a link in the Value Chain of global commercial protea production. It offers researchers, propagators, farmers, marketers, breeders and educators an open forum of communication and friendship to promote and expand the industry for the benefit of all.

From protea farms to nurseries, marketers, florists and designers... we invite you into the world of protea from around the globe and ask that you like us, follow us and join in on the conversation.

https://www.facebook.com/InternationalProteaAssociation/

https://www.instagram.com/internationalproteaassociation

CPA Event: IPA 2017 Update

This month Resendiz Brothers had the pleasure to host the California Protea Association’s (CPA) Fall meeting. The topic was – the International Protea Association (IPA) 2017 Conference and Pre-Conference Tour. It was our opportunity to shared what we learned while attending the conference in South Africa with the farmers here in California. The meeting started with the Area Report that Mel presented during the IPA Grower’s Day covering California’s current status of protea production and future outlooks. A second slide-show followed with pictures taken during the IPA Conference and Tour, highlighting the farms that so graciously welcomed us.

However, the evening wasn't just about IPA and South Africa, it was also about gathering together and catching up on what’s happening on the farms here in California. We prepared the typical ‘Resendiz Feast’ of Carne Asada, of course and dined outside on the patio.

It was a delightful evening filled with good conversation, scrumptious food and beautiful flowers … all shared with friends who love farming as much as we do.

International Protea Association Conference

The 2017 International Protea Association (IPA) Grower’s Day was held on September 4th, in Stellenbosch, South Africa. Farmers, propagators, breeders, educators, researchers and marketers gathered in an open forum of communication and friendship to promote and expand the protea industry.

The event drew nearly 100 attendees from 10 countries. Grower’s Day topics included: Strategic Intelligence – thinking the future, Effect of domestic economic trend of SA flower market, Importance of temperature management in the cut flower value, Providing assurance in the wild fynbos sector and Will fynbos change with climate change?

In addition, Area Reports from South Africa, USA, Canary Islands, Azores, Australia, Chile, Israel, New Zealand and Portugal were presented covering each country’s current status of Proteaceae production and future outlooks. The reports were also submitted to the International Society for Horticulture Science (ISHS) and will become part of the conference proceedings published in ACTA Horticulturae.

Not only was the Grower’s Day program interesting and informative, but the flowers that complimented and adorned the conference area were inspiring and gorgeous!

The next IPA conference will be held in September 2019 or 2020 in the Canary Islands, with the exact dates and venue to be announced.

IPA 2017 Pre-Conference Tour

South Africa’s Western Cape is one of the country’s most beautiful provinces, attracting a lion’s share of tourists. It is a region of majestic mountains, long beaches and colorful patchworks of farmland set in lovely valleys. With a total area of 129,462 square kilometres, the Western Cape is roughly the size of Greece.

The Mediterranean climate of the peninsula and the mountainous region beyond it is ideal for flower farming and there are a number of family farms producing an excellent range of flowers. However, if you’re passionate about Protea there’s no other place on Earth like the Cape Floristic Region – The Home of Proteaceae! That’s exactly why we made it a point to attend this year’s International Protea Association (IPA) Conference in Stellenbosch, South Africa.

The IPA Pre-Conference Tour took place on September 1st & 2nd and featured four fabulous flower farms: Arnelia Farms, Pomona Farm, Philadelphia Farm and Jansekraal.

Our first stop on the morning of the 1st (and the first day of spring in Africa) was Arnelia Farms near Hopefield.

Then, that afternoon we ventured out to Pomona Farm near Piketberg.

On day two, we headed out to Philadelphia Farm near Citrusdal in the West Coast area.

Our last stop, Jansekraal also on the west coast near Citrusdal.

XVII International Protea Association Conference

With the beautiful backdrop of Western Australia’s unique flora, and coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the world-renowned Kings Park, the XVII International Protea Association Conference held in Perth was truly inspiring. The educational programs were rich and varied, with speakers from around the globe discussing new ornamental species, breeding, cultivation, post-harvest handling and marketing plus exciting new developments in the Proteaceae and Australian wildflower industries.

The first two conference days included presentations by four highly acclaimed keynote speakers and concurrent sessions focused on Proteaceae and new ornamental crops. The third and fourth days were devoted to visiting commercial wildflower farms and nurseries, a leading wildflower exporter, and a guided tour of Kings Park, including a look ‘behind the scenes’ at the nursery and research programs.

Commercial Wildflower

Kings Park and Botanical Garden

However, the conference wasn’t only about learning – there was plenty of time to network with fellow flowers farmers from around the world.

The XVIII International Protea Association Conference is tentatively scheduled for August 2017 in Stellenbosch, South Africa.