CPA Brunch

TOGETHER AGAIN! It has been three [long] years since the California Protea Association (CPA) - had its last member gathering. Yes, after the dark days of Covid, events are back and this month we went all out and hosted an alfresco brunch at the Institute of Contemporary Art - in Encinitas. How appropriate is that? This brunch was a real culinary treat as we partnered with Chef, Flor Franco - once again, and I’m so delighted to share it with you.

Garnering acclaim and a reputation for excellence, Flor Franco has served as the Executive Chef for several award-winning venues and restaurants, two Sundance Film Festivals, one Conde Nast dinner, hundreds of the world's best events, and has had the honor of designing and executing menus for Hollywood elite, dignitaries, national political figures and of course, CPA members.

We added festive protea flare to the brunch by designing a gorgeous wreath to welcome guests and created 20 colorful arrangements to garnish the tables and to set the scene.

Everyone mingled throughout the brunch, enjoying the delicious Spanish cuisine, and refreshing beverages plus, the lively mariachi band.

A unique group of farmers and gardeners gathered in one place for one moment to share the most universal human conversation: a meal. Chef Flor and her team created an amazing menu that left us all feeling like we had just eaten at a Five Star restaurant.

I hope this alfresco brunch in the museum gardens inspires you in some small way. To me, it felt like the perfect way to rekindle relationships with fellow protea farmers and friends as well as celebrate... July – American Grown Flowers Month!

July: American Grown Flowers Month

July. There’s something about the month, perhaps it’s the fact we’ve reached the year’s halfway mark or maybe because it’s American Grown Flowers Month… that seems to muster up a little nostalgia. With that in mind, these ‘dog days of summer’ aren’t easy to shake off. Whether you’re planning a cozy outdoor rendezvous, catching up on the latest floral trends or simply spending more time relaxing at home, we’ve created a summer inspired arrangement. A few of our favorite proteas are included, like Banksia, Grevillea, Leucadendron and Leucospermum, with the foliage choices as a nod to the ‘summer essentials’ trend, as well as some dahlias, lion's tail, zinnias and kangaroo paw for an extra splash of color.

Scroll down for a glimpse at our American Grown Flowers Month recipe, as we hope it will inspire you to create your own seasonal bliss!

Spirited Floral Décor

Bring on the red, white and blue!

Although the New Year officially begins in January, here on the farm we can’t help but think that July deserves a little tribute too. There’s something about the month, perhaps it’s the fact we’ve reached the year’s halfway mark or maybe because it's the time to celebrate America… that seems to muster up a little nostalgia. With that in mind, these ‘dog days of summer’ aren’t always easy to shake off.

Whether you’re planning your next get-together or simply spending more time outdoors, we’ve created a spirited summer-inspired arrangement. This festive red, white and blue design includes several of our seasonal faves: protea, grevillea, banksia, dahlias, lily of the nile, hydrangea, crocosmia, with the foliage choices as a nod to the ‘summer essentials’ trend, as well as some blackberries for an extra splash of color and texture.

Cheers to summer bliss!

July: Summer Design Inspiration

Although the New Year officially begins in January, here on the farm we can’t help but think that July deserves a little acknowledgment too. There’s something about the month, perhaps it’s the fact we’ve reached the year’s halfway mark or maybe because it’s American Grown Flowers Month… that seems to muster up a little nostalgia. With that in mind, these ‘dog days of summer’ aren’t easy to shake off. Whether you’re planning your next summer gathering, catching up on the latest floral trends or simply spending more time outdoors, we’ve created a summer inspired arrangement. A few of our usual favorites are included, like banksia, protea, and erica, with the foliage choices as a nod to the ‘summer essentials’ trend, as well as some lilies and everlastings for an extra splash of color. Below, we’ve broken down the arrangement by the individual stem to give you a better picture of each ingredient.

Protea cynaroides or King

Banksia robur

Erica verticillata

Grevillea Ivanhoe

Olive

Leucadendron Christmas Bells

Stargazer Lily

 Everlastings

Protea News: June’s Articles and Blogs of Interest from Around the World

FIELD TO VASE
DINNER TOUR 2018

American Grown Flowers’ annual dinner tour
make two stops in California in April.

On a patchwork of some 15 parcels of hilly land with rocky, dry soil in northern San Diego County, Ismael "Mel" Resendiz has carved out a floral paradise. His farm, clinging to steep, remote hillsides and linked to civilization with narrow dirt roads, many of which Resendiz himself built, defies convention. So does its signature product, the otherworldly but undeniably lovely protea. Read more here.
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Venice's Unlikely Florist grows
beyond his man-with-a-van beginnings

Like many L.A. stories, Spencer Falls’ began with a long list of restaurant jobs, auditions and the necessity of a side hustle. So when his goal to become an actor didn’t go as planned, he dreamed up an idea that had wheels — he decided to sell flowers out of his 1980 VW Vanagon on Abbott Kinney Boulevard in Venice. Read more here.
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Senate Declares July
‘American Grown Flowers Month’

Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) introduced a resolution on June 12 designating July as “American Grown Flower Month.”

The resolution notes that the U.S. Senate recognizes: that purchasing flowers grown in the United States supports the farmers, small businesses, jobs and the U.S. economy; that growing flowers and greens in the United States is a vital part of the U.S. ag industry; and urges “all people of the United States to proactively showcase flowers and greens grown in the United States in order to show support for our flower farmers, processors, and distributors as well as agriculture in the United States overall.” Read more here.