Protea Pink Ice: A Go-To Fall Focal

As summer fades and palettes shift to velvety pinks, deep burgundies, and soft neutrals, Pink Ice starts stealing the spotlight in the fields… and it's no surprise that designers and wholesalers alike will soon be reaching for it as a go-to fall focal.

Long admired for its durability, texture, and seasonally on-trend coloring, Pink Ice is more than just another protea, it's a reliable staple that delivers impact, value, and flexibility during the late summer and autumn months.

What makes Pink Ice such a reliable staple?

 -  With  deep rose‑pink tones edged in frost‑white bracts, Pink Ice is adored for its dramatic shape and texture... it's striking & artistically versatile. The velvety bloom contrasts with soft petals and adds visual interest without overwhelming a design.

-  With a shelf life of over two weeks, Pink Ice is ideal for event work, installations, and retail… it's a bloom with remarkable longevity and resilience that earns its cost per stem tenfold. Plus, after the event, you can reuse the bloom in dried arrangements.

-  Proteas are among the Earth’s oldest flowering families. Their unique cultural & symbolic appeal gives them a sense of mystique… symbolizing transformation, courage, and resilience. In South African folklore, they hold deep cultural significance, embodying both beauty and strength.

-  Pink Ice, is seeing a surge in popularity thanks to its architectural form, sustainability, and versatility across styles. From rustic weddings to modern interiors, this flowrs fits seamlessly into evolving aesthetics that favor individuality, texture, and sustainability.

Whether you’re a florist seeking a statement centerpiece, or a trend-savvy decorator, Pink Ice delivers... combining beauty, resilience, and soulful symbolism into one unforgettable bloom.

Look Out – California Grown Waxflower is Back

‘Tis the season for waxflower and with it comes an abundance of those beloved fragrant flowers. Belonging to the Chamelaucium genus of shrubs and stemming from the myrtle family, they are related to Leptospermum and Thryptomene. Waxflower includes over a 100 varieties of Geraldton wax + lots of other Chamelaucium species and hybrids. Some of the more common hybrids are classified as Pearlflowers, Gemflowers or Starflowers. These amazing plants typically bloom early winter through spring, and they are widely grown for their frilly eye-catching blooms.

The name waxflower is due to the slight waxy feel of the petals. The leaves, which contain oil glands, are small to medium in size and boast a beautiful lemony fresh scent when crushed. The blooms are delicate in style, flaunting five petals, ten stamens and a small, hardened fruit.

Also known as the flower of romance, waxflower is symbolic of patience and lasting love, which makes them a popular option for Valentine’s Day and weddings. These fabulous blooms have an abundance of uses in bouquets and arrangements, as well as in flower crowns and corsages, as cake embellishments, and simply, left all alone on a desk or table to be enjoyed for weeks.

June Articles of Interest

The Unconventional Beauties Whose Time Has Come

Proteas are all about flower power and staying power. From a lineage of some of the oldest of plants on earth dating back to a time before dinosaurs became fully evolved, proteas, with their prehistorically edgy and unconventional appearances, are flourishing in the cut flower industry today.

Demand for them by the floral trade has risen in the past 20 years from near obscurity to being must-haves in bouquets and arrangements for weddings, special occasions, holiday decorations and personal gifts of appreciation and love.

Read more here.
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Banksia, Banksia

I don’t know what it is, but I am drawn to plants that are popular with florists. Could be that these plants have a strong constitution, usually have unique shapes and forms, or proudly pronounce their pretty petal power. One example is the under-the-radar Banksia family. You may not know these plants by name but if you hang around floral shops, you’ve definitely seen them and said, “Oh, those are expensive but cool looking flowers!”

Please keep reading to learning more about Banksia:

Read more here.

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Slow Flowers Journal – American Flowers Week 2021

This year marks our sixth Botanical Couture collection for American Flowers Week. With 25 looks created to date, and recovering from the challenges of 2020 and the global pandemic, we are thrilled to share one dozen new wearable fashions showcased in the 2021 collection! What is the point of this Botanical Couture series? Is it frivolous? Yes! Is it strategic? Yes! By presenting flowers as fashion, photographed with editorial styling to tell a story, the American Flowers Week campaign shines a light on the talented growers and designers who are part of the Slow Flowers Movement. Moreover, it changes what we think of flowers. No longer just a perishable item to capture a sentiment in time, perhaps the flowers, foliage, foraged botanicals, and natural elements you see in these pages will shift and expand your thinking. With flowers transformed as art or sculpture, as fashion and beauty, as a symbol of the human desire to connect with nature, there is much more to each bloom than one might imagine.

Read more here.

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Take It Tropical

“To me, the colorful tropical flowers that bloom in warmer climates symbolize sunny days, sandy beaches, and island vibes.”—Jessica Cohen

For the vase, Cohen chose a blue-green glass vessel reminiscent of sea glass and ocean views. Then for the flowers, she chose bold, exotic blooms such as protea, pincushions, and beehive ginger. Finally, for a playful touch, she added gloriosa lilies and craspedia, a sphere-shaped flower covered in tiny yellow flowers. The vibrant result makes a perfect centerpiece for a tropical-themed party or a “just because” gift to brighten someone’s day.

Read more here.

Protea King Arctic Ice

A luxurious Protea King is the crowning glory of a design or bouquet - these chic beauties offer an enchanting world filled with color, texture, and sizes to try. But not all Kings are created equal. In fact, some varieties are so special, they take nearly a decade to create. Such is the case for the voguish Arctic Ice, a magnificent White King Protea which has proven to be one of the most popular cultivars of this coloring of the king protea. The large flower heads are almost dinner plate in size with serrated edges much like a king’s crown. A mature plant can reach up to 5 feet in height and produce up to 50 blooms a year.

The King Protea is the national flower of South Africa — but they have been grown commercially here in California for 50 years. If you’re as crazy about these majestic flowers as we are, we suggest spending a little time in this Cynaroides’ realm.

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.

Protea News: April’s Articles and Blogs of Interest from Around the World

South African proteas are all the rage at overseas weddings -
last year we exported 3.4 million to keep up with demand

South Africa’s iconic protea is in high demand with 3.4 million exported throughout the world in 2017. The largest markets are the European Union and Russia, which represent almost half of the exports.

This is according to Cape Flora SA, a non-profit company that monitors and promotes sustainable exporting of proteas from South Africa. Cape Flora estimates that South Africa’s total fynbos market is estimated at R130 million, with some 4,200 tons of SA flowers exported last year. Read more here.
                                                                                                                                                                   

Featured Farm - Resendiz Brothers Protea Growers

I recently had the opportunity to visit Resendiz Brothers and speak to the man himself, Ismael (“Mel”) Resendiz, and Diana Roy, who plays a vital role in operations. While there, I was invited to view the beautiful rolling hills of the Resendiz Brothers impressive cut flower business In Rainbow. Mel drove me up and down the hills, explaining the history, processes, accomplishments, and struggles of his farm and land. Read more here.
                                                                                                                                                                  

Rene van Rems Wows at First 2018 Tour Stop

Floral Designer Shares the Inside Story
on Prepping for a Field to Vase Dinner

You might think the job of a floral designer is singular – to surprise and delight by creating beautiful flower arrangements. When the designer is Rene van Rems, you’d be wrong.

Van Rems was the floral designer for the recent American Grown Field to Vase Dinner at Resendiz Brothers Protea in Fallbrook, California. But his efforts went far beyond arranging flowers. He started by visiting the site with flower farmer Mel Resendiz to help select the perfect location for the dinner. Read more here.

Instagram: Photos We Dig

Ten fabulous photos from The Knot Inc., one of the world's leading wedding media and services companies, providing today's to-be-weds with comprehensive wedding planning information, interactive tools, and resources. With a fresh voice and real-world sensibility, The Knot has extended its brand to every venue brides and grooms turn to to plan their weddings.