October Articles of Interest

Petals by the Shore: American Grown at Home

Part Four of our Six-Part Series on
New Floral Marketing Models and Platforms

Wedding and event florist Kelly Shore, owner of Petals by the Shore in Damascus, Maryland, has spent the past five years educating herself about domestic flower sourcing. She began in her own backyard, motivated by a desire to support flower growers in her area, many of whom she originally purchased from through local farmers’ markets.

Read more here.
________________________________________________________

California Farmer Mel Resendiz

As we celebrate California Grown Farmer and Farmworker month, we want to highlight some very special farmers. First up, meet first-generation California farmer, Mel Resendiz.

Following a Dream of Farming

To Mel, being a farmer is more than just a job, it’s the fulfillment of a dream. “Being a farmer means that I have been able to achieve the American Dream.” said Resendiz “To own a business, own land, create jobs for family and others in the community, and to wake up every day doing something that I love doing.”

Read more here.
________________________________________________________

Sustainable use of land vital for fynbos protection

As the world looks for ways to tackle both an unprecedented health crisis and the ongoing climate crisis, the Flower Valley Conservation Trust in the Western Cape is working hard to bring to light the importance of fynbos protection through sustainable land use.

Established in 1991, the Flower Valley Conservation Trust is making sure that it creates a fynbos-filled future for life and livelihoods. The trust is a non-profit organisation based on Flower Valley Farm, just outside Gansbaai. It focuses on fynbos protection in natural landscapes and improving livelihoods across the fynbos biome.

Read more here.
________________________________________________________

The 62 Best Wedding Bouquets

A bride's floral arrangement is arguably the second most important part of her outfit, ranking immediately behind the wedding dress. Therefore, we encourage you to a put a lot of thought into the flowers you carry down the aisle! If you're wondering how to make your bridal bouquet extra special, it helps to turn to some inspiration. Luckily, we've got you covered with our all-time favorite arrangements. The bundles here feature some of the most creative shape, memorable shades, and beautiful flowers out there.

Read more here.

August Articles of Interest

Gardening | For healthy proteas,
forget using artificial fertilisers

Proteas are often admired in floral arrangements and are purchased for their ability to last several weeks in a vase.

Because they are related horticulturally to a large group of Australian native plants, including banksias, grevilleas and waratahs, they require similar growing conditions.

Proteas originate from South Africa. They have a low tolerance for artificial fertilizers. Applications of superphosphate will kill proteas. However, they require magnesium, and this can be applied as Epsom salts, scattered over the root areas and then watered in well during spring.

Read more here.
_____________________________________________________________

The Prettiest Pink Wedding Bouquets

As you're planning your wedding, it's hard not to gravitate towards pink. From "blushing brides" to the colors of love, its many shades make their presence known in a number of marriage-themed motifs. That's why it should come as no surprise that pink wedding bouquets are so popular. If you're thinking of carrying one down the aisle, you're in luck. We've rounded up some beautiful ideas to inspire you.

Read more here.
_____________________________________________________________

Create a Happy Summertime Basket Flower Arrangement
(It’s Foam Free!)

With July being officially named American Grown Flowers month by the U.S. Senate (woohoo!), we at Team Flower wanted to celebrate! Check out the official press release here. And what better way to celebrate than with a bright and happy floral arrangement! This particular design is foam free and in a structured woven straw basket.

Read more here.

July Articles of Interest

18 Petite Wedding Bouquets That Make a Big Statement

While we'll always be big fans of wild, cascading bouquets, we've noticed that more and more brides are opting for smaller-scale arrangements. These mini clutches can range from to a single stem to collection of tiny blooms. But don't be fooled—although minute, these posies still make a big impact down the aisle. In fact, we think their small size is what makes them so eye-catching.

Read more here.
_____________________________________________________________

How to grow grevilleas

Want to add colour to your winter garden? Grown all over Australia, grevilleas are fuss-free, native shrubs that flower, flower and flower – they really don’t know when to stop! They come in a great range of sizes, from groundcovers and mid-sized shrubs to tall screening plants, which are perfect for privacy. Their year-round flowers are also simply irresistible to native birds and insects. The toughest thing about growing grevilleas is choosing which ones to plant!

Read more here.
_____________________________________________________________

The ultimate guide to Australian native flowers

Looking to add a touch of Australiana when building a bouquet or growing your garden? There are so many stunning Australian native flowers to choose from, here is a list of some of the most popular.

Read more here.
_____________________________________________________________

Flower Arranging 101

There is no quicker or easier way to add a dash of color, boost your mood, improve the appearance of your surroundings or freshen the air than adding fresh flowers and greenery to your environment.

Florists, of course, are the go-to source not only for pre-made arrangements, but for fresh-cut flowers as well. Some, like Edward on St. Simons, will take your order over the phone and place the arrangement outside their door. There are also good alternatives to be found at grocery stores and in your own backyard.

Read more here.

March Articles of Interest

Finding Relief in a World of Panic

I confess to a strange sensation amid a world in the panic of epidemiological meltdown: I feel relief, a curious lightness of spirit borne not of sangfroid, but of surrender. To be sure I am gravely concerned for all of us in this COVID-19 nightmare. We are all in it together, and we are all responsible. But as I sat yesterday erasing line after line in my calendar (paper and pencil, quaint, I know), of speaking appearances, book signings, a TV shoot, a working trip to Europe, a vacation, and a considerable amount of money, I couldn’t help feel the kind of conflicted joy that might accompany a string of stay-at-home snow days: a pain in the neck but also an opportunity (a painortunity?) A sort-of vacation, but minus the anxiety of what you left undone… because you haven’t actually left, and probably won’t anytime soon.

Read more here.
_____________________________________________________________

'Out of the greenhouse and into a dumpster':
Flower farmers impacted during COVID-19 pandemic

WATSONVILLE, Calif. —

"If you can't sell, to be honest, there is really no point in harvesting the flowers. So we are taking the flowers out the greenhouse and into a dumpster. It's very bleak. It's not nice at all," said Farai Madziva, vice president of sales and chief of staff with Kitayama Brothers Farms.
Kitayama Brothers is only operating with 25% of its staff, and the COVID-19 pandemic is forcing flower farmers to run a skeleton staff.

Madziva said: "Can our employees get back to an entity that still exists? They can say we are back home and continue growing. Most of our employees have been with us for more than 20 years. When you look at that, we are family. Just letting people go and saying goodbye, and when they come back, the family is not there anymore. Those are the concerns, those are the worries, that is what we are trying to preserve."

Read more here.
_____________________________________________________________

31 Colorful Wedding Bouquets

These bright, bold, and beautiful bouquets use colors that are seriously out of this world. From rich oranges, bright pinks, and sunny yellows to cool blues, earthy greens, and deep purples, a colorful wedding bouquet will pop against any bride's white wedding dress. Opt for an arrangement that is filled with vibrant tones for a showstopping bundle or use pops of color to upgrade an otherwise simple bouquet. Click through to get inspired by some of our favorite bright bridal bouquets from real weddings.

Read more here.

December Articles of Interest

Resendiz Brothers Earns BloomCheck Certification

Resendiz Brothers Protea Growers was one of the first three farms in the country to earn BloomCheck certification when the program started in 2013. In another first, they’ve become one of the earliest farms to renew their certification.

“I really felt that it was important that our customers realize that we’re dedicated to sustainable farming, that we respect the land and we’re environmentally friendly,” Diana Roy business manager for Resendiz Brothers, said of becoming an early adopter.

Read more here.
_____________________________________________________________

Les Hodge | A hardy work of exotic, alien beauty

Leucadendrons are tough, easy-to-grow plants given their preferred growing conditions of deep acidic soil in full sun with plenty of air circulation.

Many can withstand strong, salty winds so are suited to coastal areas. Most will take light frost and are drought tolerant once established, making them a good choice for our hot summers.

The flowers are woody cone-like structures giving rise to the leucadendron's common name of cone bush.

Read more here.
_____________________________________________________________

30 Amazing Protea Wedding Bouquets

Protea plants, also known as sugarbushes, have become a favorite in the wedding world. The blooms—which are native to South Africa—come in a number of different varieties, and each is beloved for its unique shape or color. These include the big king protea, the unusual pincushion protea, and the aptly-named blushing bride protea. Whichever you like, we recommend incorporating it into your wedding bouquet for a bold and beautiful arrangement. For inspiration, look no further than these unique protea wedding bouquet ideas.

Read more here.

Flower News: June’s Stories of Interest from Around the World

30 Amazing Protea Wedding Bouquets

Protea plants, also known as sugarbushes, have become a favorite in the wedding world. The blooms—which are native to South Africa—come in a number of different varieties, and each is beloved for its unique shape or color. These include the big king protea, the unusual pincushion protea, and the aptly-named blushing bride protea. Whichever you like, we recommend incorporating it into your wedding bouquet for a bold and beautiful arrangement. For inspiration, look no further than these unique protea wedding bouquet ideas.

There's so much to love about protea flowers.

Read more here
___________________________________________________________

Plants & Nations: South Africa

South Africa is one of the most biologically diverse countries on earth. It occupies only about 2% of the world's land area but is home to some 24,000 species, nearly 15% of known marine species and 10% of the earth's plants.

South Africa has 19 national parks including Kruger National Park, a fantastic African safari destination; Table Mountain National Park, regarded as a wonder of nature, and Bontebok National Park with its colorful riches. From September 14 to 18, all national parks are free of charge to South Africans. In this article, we introduce three iconic plants that you can find in the ‘Rainbow Nation.'

Read more here.
____________________________________________________________

2019 Unexpected Floral Trend – Dried Flowers

A 4,000-year-old trend is making its rounds again!

That’s right - preserving or drying flowers date back 4,000 years ago to the Egyptians. These dried flowers were presented in funeral ceremonies, with each flower being chosen for a symbolic meaning within their religion.

From Ancient Egypt to Victorian England, dried flowers are making their way back in 2019. The growing DIY movement and popularity of natural products is allowing dried florals to see a new light.

This is a great opportunity to let customers know after receiving or purchasing a fresh arrangement, they can hang and dry their flowers to give them more time to appreciate the arrangement.

Read more here.