May Articles of Interest

A Blushing Bride on Your Wedding

Protea Blushing Bride is one of the most sought after wedding flowers. These are truly one of a kind. Think of a tropical peony, and you get the protea Blushing Bride, which is actually a member of the Proteaceae, endemic to South Africa. Some call this beauty serruria Florida.

Pointed petals that range from ivory-white to pale green to pale pink, open to reveal a blush center, hint the name, Blushing Bride. Combine with cymbidiums and spider chrysants for a tropical bouquet or combine with ranunculus and orlaya flowers for a romantic bouquet.

Read more here.
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The Prototypical Protea

There are stunning flowers, and there are stunning flowers. The protea, also known as the sugarbush, belongs to the latter category. You’ve probably seen these whimsical flowers in stylish bouquets and centerpieces, where their unusual beauty draws you in for a closer look. There are more than 1,500 species of protea, which is native to New Zealand, Australia, South America, and South Africa (stateside, they’re grown in California and Hawaii). King Protea, the largest, is so bulbous, so heavy, it’s a wonder it doesn’t just tip right over.

Read more here.
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Pick of the Proteas

Proteas have existed for over 300 million years, making them one of the oldest groups of flowering plants in the world. Despite their ancient roots, they look beautifully modern in any garden. They’re also low care, make great cut flowers, are bird attracting and share the same care needs as our own Aussie natives. Discover the most popular protea varieties as well as their South African cousins - leucadendrons, leucospermum and serruria - below.

Read more here.
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Benefits of Having Flowers and Plants at Home

Certainly, we all like to receive flowers and be able to decorate each of our spaces, or even with plants, both for its delicate beauty or for its aroma, but did you know that not only serve as decoration? Having flowers or plants has many benefits, and of course when you know you will try to have them in your home and work more frequently.

Read more here.

The Boutonniere

Boutonnieres are not just an accessory reserved for weddings or school dances, we’re big fans of boutonnieres for any and all occasions! The tradition of wearing flowers goes back as far as ancient civilizations like the Egyptians and the Aztecs, who were believed to wear certain colored flowers to show their support for athletes in sporting events.

Historians believe that the boutonniere ritual came about on the battlefields of civil wars in England, where each side wore a certain color or type of flower to distinguish friends and enemies from each other. Boutonnieres also were popular as lapel adornments in the early 19th century. The style of this era started to include coats that folded over at the top, revealing the inside of the buttonhole. Some people think that boutonnieres became popular for weddings and special occasions because flowers were thought to get rid of bad odors, diseases and even evil spirits.

Boutonniere Etiquette

At weddings, there are certain guidelines to follow when it comes to boutonnieres. For example, the groom should have a different boutonniere than his groomsmen and his father as well as the bride's father. And, it’s a nice idea to match the groom’s boutonniere to the bride’s bouquet.

Boutonnieres should be worn on the left lapel of a man’s suit jacket. A good jacket will have a sturdy buttonhole that will support the weight of the accessory, as well as a latch to keep the stems in place. If there is no lapel on the jacket you’re planning to wear, make sure that the designer creates an attractive stem that can be pinned onto your lapel.

Events: Crafting Cornucopias

Come holiday season, we’re busy elves here on the farm. While brainstorming ideas for our holiday bouquets and wreaths, we decided to break out the clippers and wire, and get hands-on. Here’s what an afternoon of arts and crafts (and plenty of laughs) looked like at our recent Cornucopia workshop.

Greenery: Encourages New Beginnings

The Pantone Color Institute has announced its Color of the Year for 2017 — and we’re back to just one color this year! It’s called “Greenery” or Pantone 15-0343 – a gorgeous shade of green.

The color is said to be symbolic of “new beginnings” — the reconnection we seek with nature and one another. Greenery is described by the institute as a “fresh and zesty yellow-green shade that evokes the first days of spring when nature’s greens revive, restore and renew.”

This annual color award is supposed to serve as an icon of what’s taking place in the world, an expression of the mood and attitude. And this year that mood and attitude is a yearning for a fresh New Year, healthier food choices, flowers, greens, and the outdoors — in one word, environment.

“There’s a growing desire to reconnect with Nature and what is real, and find ways to disconnect from technology. We need a break. We need to stop and breathe,” states Laurie Pressman, the Pantone Color Institute’s vice president.

So, in 2017 we’re planning to surround ourselves in “Greenery” and here’s some of our favorites!

Berzelia Lanuginosa

Green Boronia

Leucadendron Inca Gold

Leucadendron Nobel

Banksia Media

Banksia Speciosa

Green Kangaroo Paw

Protea Green Apple

Flowers - What We LOVE!

With Valentine's Day just weeks away we've began harvesting some amazing flowers and we want you to see them first! 

 

Share a little of our LOVE this Valentine's Day and give the gift of Flowers!

California Grown Floral Inspirations: Part 2

Ready for a little more California Grown Inspiration?  Remember last spring when we shared some our favorite California grown flowers with three very talented designers and later revealed their creative designs?  Well, this summer we felt inspired once again and wanted to see what they’d craft with another season’s harvest.  Each designer received the same box of flowers and was asked to create something special.  What happened this time?  Once again three very different personalities, styles and moods were divulged - all beautiful and creative. 

The designers involved were Carmel from Mt. Lebanon Floral Shop in Pennsylvania, a Alicia from Bella Fiori in Washington and Laurie from Fleurie in California.  Each box was filled Protea Eximia, Banksia Speciosa, Grevillea Ivanhoe, Brunia Albiflora and Leucadendron Goblet, Jester and Safari Sunset. 

Here's what they created:

Carmel made a variety of wonderful designs - from a large colorful centerpiece (love the message), to a beautifully decorated street lamp, a lovely table arrangement and even a matching ring and bracelet.

Alicia created a fabulous arrangement in an elegant crystal container and a gorgeous green and burgundy hand-tied bouquet.

Laurie designed a spectacular centerpiece in a rustic wooden container.

With all these amazing designs - I couldn't help but feel inspired to grab an armful of flowers and create something special too!

Thanks Carmel, Alicia and Laurie for inspiring us once again!