Glorious Grevillea

Beautiful flowers, fabulous foliage and an amazing plant. Grevillea is a large diverse genus with about 340 species, mainly of Australian origin. Such an amazing variable genus, with growth habits ranging from flowering ground cover types, to beautiful scrubs and hedges, to tall colorful trees. Grevillea flowers range in color from white to pink, yellow to red and their size can be small and spider-like or large and bottle brush-shaped, like these gorgeous blooms.

Grevillea foliage can be sharp and needle-like, soft and fern-like, or long branches with colorful jagged edges which definitely add wonderful texture to any bouquet or arrangement.

Here are a few of the bouquets we recently discovered mixing Grevillea flowers and foliage with other colorful and interesting florals.

And after a leisurely trip around my own garden, I couldn't help but feel a little inspired to create my own kitchen bouquet!

Happy Independence Day!

Because July 4th is a day when we all, as Americans, stand together and celebrate how lucky we are to live in a land of the FREE ... because of the brave.

Flowers for the Heart

This weekend's first Annual Travis Fund Polo Match at the Temecula Valley Polo Club included a mix of fast-paced polo action, fundraising, food, flowers and fun for everyone who attended! All proceeds from the ticket sales and raffles went directly to The Travis Fund's efforts to place Automated External Defibrillators (AED's) in schools and public facilities. The Travis Fund foundation is very near and dear to our Hearts so we were eager to volunteer and to donate flowers for the players and plants for the raffle.

The Travis Fund is dedicated to raising awareness about Sudden Cardiac Arrest so others may survive!

In attendance were five of the Travis Fund's seven Board members as well as a very special nurse, Sandi Pollet.

 
The crowd gathers as the match begins.

Polo, sometimes called "The Sport of Kings", is played on a large grass field and each polo team consists of four riders and their mounts. Polo is the oldest team sport in world history dating back to 650 A.D.

A little Food and Spirits to add to the ambiance!

Protea Bouquets were presented to all the players as a 'Heart-Felt' thank you for their efforts during the match and for supporting this important cause.

After the match, there was time for a little "Sidewalk CPR" lesson.

Many thanks go out to the Temecula Valley Polo Club for hosting this special event!  For more information on The Travis Fund, go to: www.TheTravisFund.org

What Do You Get When You Mix Protea, Food and Flower Farmers?

Yes, a Protea Festival! We couldn't think of a better way to celebrated the first weekend of summer then with our friends and fellow flowers farmers from the California Protea Association.

As you can see the flowers were superb, especially these gorgeous
Protea Aristata - definetly a summertime favorite!

A perfect time to catch up on 'flower farm news'
and the spring season behind us.

Enjoy a scrumptious meal and a few laughs with friends.

Spend time with some of our California Protea Pioneers - The Stones!

Gather for a special presentation on Grafting amidst a garden paradise.

Another wonderful CPA event with some very special friends -
Can't wait until we meet again!

And a 'Big Thank you' to the Hancock's who were absolutely amazing hosts!

Why the Name Luisies?

Leucospermum is derived from the Greek word leukas meaning “white” and spermum meaning “seeded”. Which is why Pincushions originally had the South African name of “Luisies” an allusion to the grayish-white, rounded seeds, which in the crumpled and dried flower-heads, resemble insects in tangled in the fur of an animal. 

So each year right about this time, we venture into the Pincushion fields to gather seeds.

Seeds can be found deep in the heads of the dried flowers.

Usually entangled in the white hairs.

Most of the seeds we gather are sown in pots until they are mature enough to transplant in the fields. By growing a plant from seed versus using propagated cuttings we can often discover new and different varieties for future cultivation.

Did you know these flower seeds also make a great summer snack?  Once the outer shells are removed and the seeds are roasted, they make a tasty addition to salads and breads.

"All the flowers of all the tomorrows are in the seeds of today". - Swedish Proverb

Trending Now - Protea King Bouquets!

Despite being our favorite flower, proteas have never received quite the same amount of love and attention as they have in recent months, especially in terms of wedding bouquets.  And it just so happens to be the season for both Weddings and King Protea (May - June), which as you can see definitely make a great combination.  Here are 16 hot king bouquets that are trending now! 

 

 

 

 

  

Happy Memorial Day - Decoration Day

I have never been able to think of the day as one of mourning; I have never quite been able to feel that half-masted flags were appropriate on Decoration Day. I have rather felt that the flag should be at the peak, because those whose dying we commemorate rejoiced in seeing it where their valor placed it.  We honor them in a joyous, thankful, triumphant commemoration of what they did.   ~Benjamin Harrison 

Did you know Memorial Day
was originally called Decoration Day?

 

Three years after the Civil War ended, on May 5, 1868, the head of an organization of Union veterans — the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) — established Decoration Day as a time for the nation to decorate the graves of the war dead with flowers. Maj. Gen. John A. Logan declared that Decoration Day should be observed on May 30. It is believed that date was chosen because flowers would be in bloom all over the country.