In the Field: Banksia Speciosa

Like clockwork… just before the summer solstice, Banksia speciosa are in full bloom. Many of the soft, silvery-gray buds have fully opened to form long, chartreuse cylindrical spikes. Leathery, saw-tooth leaves fan out in a circular pattern from each flower’s base, creating amazing natural designs. Also referred to as Showy Banksia, Green Banksia, Ricrac Banksia or Mint Julep, the name speciosa comes from the Latin speciosus, meaning ‘showy’… referring to the stunning appearance of the plant, particularly its flowers.

With a refreshing and revitalizing mint-green to yellowish hue, these awesome blooms deliver a wealth of texture to arrangements and bouquets.

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.

A Floral Feast at the End of Rainbow

The 2018 American Grown Field to Vase Dinner Tour made its first stop of the season in Fallbrook, CA on a glorious spring day. These amazing dinners are fun and quite informative and of course, they allow you to cozy up to more flowers than you could ever imagine! The idea behind these ‘floral feasts’ is to bring America’s Flower Farming Families and the surrounding community together for a relaxing and enjoyable evening, all while becoming a bit more informed about agriculture and the importance of buying local.

Resendiz Brothers is located just east of the Southern California coast where a light sea breeze mixed with steep, rugged terrain will never leave you the same. Guests dined on a remote pad situated high up in the hills of Rainbow where colorful pincushions were blooming as far as the eye could see.

During the reception guests mingled while sipping on champagne and nibbling on savory hors d’oeuvres of Endive Spears, Spicy Gingered Carrot Soup and Agave Glazed Pork Belly prepared by Chef Teegan Smith, of Crown Point Catering.

Guests were encouraged to create their own unique floral accessories at a boutonniere bar, make friends with two adorable kids (goats, of course) and to take advantage of the fabulous floral photo props… the limo and a rustic motorcycle cart filled with awesome blossoms, protea wreaths and incredible views.

Special name cards were created and tucked tightly in Banksia integrifolia cones, so guest could save their favorite spot at the table.

Dinner began with a pre-set Bibb Lettuce Salad with the rest of the meal being served Family Style. Platters of Boneless Short Rib with Smoked Gouda Yukon Gold Mash, Farm Ratatouille, Creamy Polenta and fresh Vegetables were passed down the table and savored by all. Geyser Peak Winery provided the red and white wine that perfectly complimented every dish. Truly a fabulous feast.

The evening ended with abundance of ‘Dinner Favors’, swag bags full of floral treats, protea bouquets and even the centerpieces and wreaths going home with everyone.

To see all the upcoming dates and locations for the next Field to Vase Dinners click here. If you are anywhere near these locations, don’t miss the experience!

Designing with Helen – Part 2

We first met Helen Davis this summer when Mel was the featured farmer in the California State Floral Association’s booth at the State Fair in Sacramento. With some determination, her daughter, Laura, brought her to meet Mel and see the protea. She was asked to pick the flowers of her choice and make her own special protea bouquet which she proudly took home with her. Meeting Helen and seeing her light-up as she created her bouquet has since been a highlight of ‘2017’ for both Mel and me!

To our delight earlier this month, we heard from Laura once again. She asked if she could bring her mother down to see the farm around the middle of the month. Since we saw Helen in July, she had been diagnosed with a rare cancer and Laura wanted her to visit us while she was active and able to make the trip. Laura said, “We have been living your flowers from afar but it’s time to see the real thing in person.”

They decided to join us on the 16th for our farm tour, wreath class and a special trip up into Rainbow to see the flower fields or what Helen called, Protea Heaven!”

Petal it Forward 2017

The floral industry hit the streets on October 11th to Petal It Forward, and Fallbrook was among 459 cities in all 50 states, plus DC and Canada where florists, wholesalers and farmers brightened the days of random passersby. It was all part of the nationwide ‘Petal it Forward’ program, in partnership with the Society of American Florists (SAF). This program is in response to SAF’s 2015 omnibus research which showed that while 80 percent of people said flowers make them happy, even more, 88 percent said that giving flowers makes them happy.

Petal It Forward teams from 459 cities not only spread happiness to lucky people who received the flowers, but armed the recipients with the tools they needed to Petal It Forward and spread happiness to others: An extra flower bouquet to share with the person of their choice. We joined in on the fun and headed to the local cafe where we spread some happiness too!

This was a win-win for all the happiness ambassadors but, more importantly, it was a win for creating positive buzz around flowers in the communities that were reached.