Isopogon

What could be more magical than seeing winter turn to spring? Isopogon celebrates the transition with us. This member of the Australia Proteaceae family consists of over 34 species plus, three varieties. In Western Australia Isopogon are often referred to as cone flowers, while in the eastern states they’re known as drumsticks.

These unique looking spring flowers, born as a solid cone with the blooms spiraling from and surrounding the central cone, look like petite pinwheels. Like many proteas, Isopogon flowers are made up of many flowers that open from the outside in. Its stems are woody, and leaves are green, pointed and surround the flowers at their base.

What to look for

• Buy when the outer flowers in each flower head are opening. 
• Avoid bunches with brown tips on the flowers and with yellow leaves.

Flower Care

1. Keep cool. 
2. Strip leaves from the bottom half of each stem. 
3. Re-cut at least 1/4” off each stem and place in cold water. 
4. Use a preservative as this will help keep open flowers looking fresh. 
5. Replace water frequently.

Christmas in July - Protea Angels

It's no secret that I love protea. And I'm a firm believer that it's never too early to start preparing for Christmas! I’ve been watching the Hallmark’s Christmas in July movies and getting into the spirit. If you want to start doing a little Christmas in July crafting read on for a fun project, you can start making today!

DIY Protea Angels - Is there anything better than Christmas decor that is hand-made and natural?

Protea angels are not only pretty ornaments on a tree though… Imagine how sweet they could be sitting on a shelf, or adorning a holiday table? Best of all, they only take a few minutes to make.

First, you need to gather your supplies. Here's what I used:

• Dried protea blooms and pods 
• Protea leaves 
• Everlastings and other decorative flowers 
• Small wooden doll head 
• Sharpie markers 
• Hot glue gun 
• Twine

To make these you need to drill a small whole in the bottom of the wooden doll head and then design the face (eyes, nose, mouth and hair) with the colored markers. Repeat this step for as many angels as you'd like to make.

Then select the dried protea blooms you prefer to use for the body of the angels. Next you need to affix the wood doll head to the stem of the protea flower using the hot glue to secure it in place.

Cut a small piece of twine, twist it in half and attach it to the head with a dab of the hot glue. Finally, use the everlastings and other decorative blooms to fashion the angels with a floral crown and dress garnishing.

Just like a snowflake, no two protea angels you create will be exactly alike. That’s the beauty of nature and handmaking your own Christmas ornaments. Each is unique and different and beautiful.

Mingling Flowers & Fruit

Fruit looks gorgeous in the garden, and even better served on a platter or mixed in your favorite dessert. But did you know, adding seasonal fruit into a flower arrangement, to bring in a fresh element of color, texture and shape, is often the recipe needed to transform a design from beautiful to eye-catching and unique?

What kinds of fruit can be added to a flower arrangement? More than you might think. Vines with berries, grapes and passion fruit, or even lemons, oranges, peaches and persimmons can be used to expand your palette of materials. A cluster of kumquats might give you a pop of smooth orange amongst green foliage, or a pomegranate snuggled amid lush blooms can lend rich color to a design.

Fruits that grow on branches, stems, or vines are easiest to include if you leave them attached. For example, a blackberry vine can be tucked and mingled in around your primary flowers quite easily. For larger fruits, the key to success is a sturdy stem. You can use the existing stem or create a stem by putting them on a skewer, so it can be secured in the arrangement. And… just as you would remove the leaves of your florals below the vase water line, do this with your fruit, as well.

Plus, using galvanized containers, vintage baskets and even other fruit like pumpkins are all fun ways to go from garden to table. Here are several of our seasonal designs:

Fashioning Protea Ornaments

When it's time to decorate for the holidays this year, you may be devoted to your favorite store-bought decorations that have been tucked away in your garage all year long. While they’re a nice way to jolly up your home, we think designing and fashioning your own ornaments can be a more creative way to decorate. Whether you're already in the ‘elf mode’ or want to hold off on making anything until you've picked out your tree, there's never a wrong time to start thinking about creating some unique, homemade ornaments.

That brings us to our favorite holiday décor. Yep... you’ve guessed it once again, proteas! Did you know proteas are ever-flowers? With proper post-harvest care, blooms can last weeks in a vase. Then, they don’t die… they dry beautifully! Many Proteas retain their structural design and to some extent their color. When used in crafts, like ornaments, they are as permanent as almost anything the botanical world provides. The best part? Our favorite ornaments can be enjoy during the holidays and long after the season ends. So, if you're tired of those old store-bought decorations, we suggest you take a peek at these sweet angels.

When protea blooms find their ultimate place in a dried decor, they finish a story that began in Gondwanaland and triumphed over a thousand adversities. They represent a special kind of bond, a link to the past and a reminder of the present and how new life springs eternal.

Fall into Jewel Tones

With the Holiday Season only weeks away, now is the time to fall into Jewel Tones and create a little extra drama by adding these rich colors to your arrangements and bouquets! Autumn proteas bring an exotic and unique touch to any design, especially when combined with warm, saturated colors like topaz, emerald and sapphire, and unexpected textures like brunia, roses, ranunculus, everlastings and cones + pods. When paired with fabulous foliage like leucadendron, agonis, grevillea + eucalyptus, another level of allure and sophistication is added to the design...and, that's especially welcome during this magically time of the year. Here are some of our favorite designs bursting with deep hues and rustic stems.

In the Field: Leucospermum Erubescens

Within the wonderfully diverse world of Leucospermum or more commonly called pincushions, Erubescens ranks among the most distinct, captivating and eye-catching. They’re so easy to spot, petite oval flowerheads 2 to 2.5 inches in diameter and clustered in four to eight together at the end of the stems. They are somewhat asymmetical with the styles leaning a bit towards the stem. Each individual flower starts out yellow, gradually opening to reveal a bright crimson, from which long styles stick out, giving the flowerhead as a whole the appearance of a single pincushion.

Other common names for this intriguing Leucospermum are Fruit Salad, Langeberg pincushion, and orange flame pincushion. Blooms are produced early spring into summer and can last on the bush for up to two months.

When Protea is the Way to Your Heart

If you really want to melt hearts this Valentine’s Day, you might want to think outside the vase. Perfect for besties and sweeties alike, these gorgeous protea wreaths make for thoughtful, long lasting gifts.

A one-of-a-kind handmade gift designed for your one-of-a-kind Valentine.