Crushing on Banksia Ashbyii

Looking to add a bold, textural twist to your floral designs? Say hello to Banksia ashbyii! With its blazing orange flower spikes and rugged, sculptural leaves, this Australian native is your secret weapon for unforgettable arrangements.

🔥 Why We’re Crushing on Ashbyii:  

🔸 That burnt-orange color? Instant warmth.
🔸 Those spiky, cone-like blooms? Hello, texture.
🔸 Silvery foliage? A dusty, desert-chic dream.
🔸 Bonus: it dries beautifully, so your designs last long after the fresh phase.

🌿 Design Tips: 

• Pair it with soft natives like eucalyptus, leucospermum, or leucadendron for an earthy boho vibe. 
• Want more contrast? Tuck in some soft fennel or grevillea flowers for a wild-meets-refined touch. 
• Feeling bold? Mingle a few ashbyii with a king and pink duke, pincushions, conebush, blue lepto and some sea holly for a bright avant-garde aura.

Ashbyii photographs like a dream. Perfect for weddings, events, or that one stunning centerpiece.

So next time you're building a bouquet or styling a display, throw in an ashbyii or two… it’s like an Australian road trip in flower form.

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.

The Beauty of Winter Leucadendron

When winter settles in, many plants retreat into dormancy, their vibrancy muted by the cold. But not Leucadendron. This striking plant transforms into a winter gem in the heart of the colder months, bringing a unique splash of color and texture to the fields.

During winter, many Leucadendron species, like Leucadendron safari sunset, take on even greater beauty. Their distinctive, almost glossy bracts ranging from rich reds and deep greens are amplified by the crisp, clear air. The contrast between the bright foliage and frigid land makes for a mesmerizing scene. What’s particularly striking about the winter Leucadendron is its resilience. As temperatures dip, it remains consistent, even flourishing in the chill. The colors of its leaves deepen, creating a dramatic effect against the winter skies. The plant’s form, tall with upright stems and topped with clusters of vibrant bracts, creates a sense of structure and elegance in the field.

Their flowers, often in the form of beautifully intricate cones, are surrounded by colorful bracts that offer a striking visual contrast. These cones can range from shades of crimson to cream, and they seem to glow, almost as though the plant itself is lighting up the winter landscape.

Winter Leucadendron is more than just a visual treat. It’s a symbol of endurance and beauty amidst the cold, a reminder that nature doesn’t stop when the temperature drops. In a world where winter often evokes images of bare trees and muted tones, Leucadendron stands as a testament to the unexpected beauty that can thrive in even the harshest conditions. Its bold colors, intricate forms, and seasonal endurance invite us to see winter in a whole new light, one that’s full of color, contrast, and resilience.

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.

Winter Bliss

Need a little extra "oomph" during these cold, gloomy winter days? You got it. Plenty of winter proteas bloom during the year's shortest and darkest days, just when you need color the most! It’s easy to capture the beauty of the season with these fabulous florals and there’s such a surprising diversity of varieties and colors to choose from. So why not enjoy all that’s available?

Protea like Andrea, Brenda and Pink Ice are eagerly available and when mixed in an arrangement they’re sure to brighten your sacred space. Surprising foliage like Leucadendron Tricolor, Duet and Salignum can bring unexpected color and lovely texture to a design too. Plus, some varieties of Leucospermum like Sunrise start blooming in early winter and the striking orange hue adds a lovely contrast. Soft silvery-green argenteum or Silver Tree, spiky Grevillea flowers and fragrant eucalyptus Parvifolia with heart shaped leaves can transform a classic design into a cheerful wintry display.

There’s no doubt, the best way to turn the ‘Winter Blues’ into 'Winter Bliss' is to surround yourself with plenty of vivid colors and extraordinary textures. With proteas, it's easy to create a design that takes the chill out of the season and delivers a well-deserved pick-me-up.

Resendiz Brothers 2024 Calendar

For the last twenty-four years I’ve designed and created our annual Resendiz Brothers calendar, which we proudly share with all our friends and family. The time spent crafting the calendar has become very special as it gives me the opportunity to reflect on the past twelve months while rummaging through fabulous photos to select my thirteen favorites. The cover is typically a photograph that has received quite a bit of attention during the last year or reminds me of a particular season, and this year's choice - was no exception. The remaining twelve photographs are thoughtfully placed in the calendar to represent the months when the proteas pictured are typically in bloom. Scroll on down and have a sneak peek at this year’s picks.

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December