A Perfect Match: Protea and Peonies

Pink protea are definitely a personal passion. The velvety, bell-shaped blooms contrast beautifully with the soft petals of most flowers. They are standouts. A full-grown protea plant can produce 65 or more stems. There will be plenty of blooms to cut and enjoy indoors, and still some left in the garden for added pleasure. When left to dry in your home, protea deliver pleasure long after the plant’s season ends.

Another pink standout is the peony or also known as “Polish Poses”. They’re outrageously beautiful in bloom with lush foliage all summer long. Peonies are perennials that come back every year to take your breath away. In fact, some plants have been known to thrive for at least 100 years. For best results, the stems should be cut in the morning when the buds are still fairly tight. Peonies make wonderful cut flowers, lasting more than a week in a vase and they dry beautifully as well.

On days that call for a little extra bliss or magic, candy hues, mixed textures, and varied shapes emit homey spontaneity. A rustic French floral container, with ample room for plenty of blooms, becomes the perfect vessel for embracing an array of protea, peonies, grevillea flowers and, of course, fabulous foliage.

Bringing flowers into your home breaks the barrier between inside and out. It opens a window on nature’s astonishing world and conveys a special wisdom that increases the more you do it.

Design Goals: From Bouquet to Centerpiece

You may have noticed already but flowers are certainly having a moment during this era of Covid. Nothing says ‘HAPPY’ quite like a beautiful arrangement of fresh flowers. They’re bright, colorful, and downright cheery!

However, ordering weekly arrangements might not be in your budget right now… which is why we decided to share a few tips on how to turn an simple bouquet into a stunning centerpiece.

First, you need to choose your flowers or bouquet. Selecting a mix of fresh seasonal protea coupled with colorful Leucadendron and lush greens is always a great start. Since protea have cup-shaped or bell-shaped blooms, you might want to try adding something that has a spiky look… like Grevillea flowers and it’s always fun to add a few non-protea blooms as well. So, don’t be afraid to venture into your garden or yard and see what’s in bloom or discover some interesting foliage to add more color and texture. Once you have all your ingredients, you’ll want to select your container and consider the shape and height of your arrangement.

Now… it's time to get creative! Start by preparing your flowers and foliage, strip any leaves off the bottom half of each stem so they don’t fall below the water line in the vase. You'll want to cut the flowers to different heights to create a balanced and flow. Place one stem at a time in the container and turn it as you work to ensure your arrangement looks good from all angles.

Finally, have fun with your flowers and let your creativity flow.

Banksia Foliage

Within the wonderfully diverse world of proteas, the Banksia ranks among the best known and most spectacular genera of the Australian Proteaceae. It now includes around a 178 species, plus 19 naturally occurring varieties and an increasing number of registered cultivars. These amazing botanicals are not only popular for their vividly colored flower spikes, their foliage is fabulous too. Banksia foliage helps create volume, structure and texture in bouquets, arrangements and displays.

The leaves of Banksia vary greatly between species. Sizes differ from the narrow, long needle-like, whispy foliage of Occidentalis (Red Swamp Banksia), to the jagged leather-like leaves of Praemorsa (Cut-leaf banksia). The most common banksia foliage, Integrifolia (Coastal Banksia or White Honeysuckle) is a bit fickle as the younger leaves are usually broad and irregular toothed, while the mature leaves are smooth and spear shaped. They have white undersides that tend to give the leaves a silvery look.

Banksia Occidentalis

Banksia Praemorsa

Banksia Integrifolia

Banksia foliage provide a lush and long-lasting base for wreaths and they blend well with just about any other flowers and greens!

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.
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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.
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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.
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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.

Seasons Greetings

As one season transitions into another the flora and colors that dominate our daily harvest shift as well. The crimson, fuchsia and white protea of winter give way to the red and yellow hues of spring. Summer’s lush greens and coral shades become the warm orange and cream banksia of fall. Even in the greenhouse where seasonal changes are not as obvious the passage is visible in the angle of sunlight and feel of the air. This helping hand from Mother Nature offers us the opportunity to continually change the colors and textures found in our wreaths. In our opinion, there’s no better way to roll out the welcome mat and start a new season than with a gorgeous Protea Wreath!

Winter

Spring

Summer

Fall

July: American Grown Design Inspiration

Although the New Year officially begins in January, here on the farm we can’t help but think that July deserves a little homage too. There’s something about the month, perhaps it’s the fact we’ve reached the year’s halfway mark or maybe because it’s American Grown Flowers Month… that seems to muster up a little nostalgia. With that in mind, these ‘dog days of summer’ aren’t easy to shake off. Whether you’re planning a cozy outdoor rendezvous, catching up on the latest floral trends or simply spending more time relaxing at home, we’ve created a summer inspired arrangement. A few of our usual favorites are included, like Banksia, Protea, Brunia and Leucospermum, with the foliage choices as a nod to the ‘summer essentials’ trend, as well as some fennel flowers, Southern Lagniappe, zinnias and everlasting for an extra splash of color.

Scroll down for a glimpse at our summer recipe, as we hope it will inspire you to create your own seasonal bliss!

Callistemon

Looking for Bottlebrush? We’re getting lots of requests for those textural flowers that bear a striking resemblance to the well-known kitchen tool. However, the first question that comes to mind is - Exactly which bottlebrush are you referring to? The name bottlebrush has been used to identify several Australian native plants including Banksia, Calothamnus and Grevillea.

Did you know the Callistemon are the true Bottlebrushes? This Australian genus of about 38 species is a member of the myrtle family. The soft flower spikes are made up of hundreds of individual flowers. Bloom color varies between species; most are red, but some are pink, mauve, yellow, green, orange or cream, and many species have two or more flowering periods a year. In addition, bottlebrushes are also easily recognized by the textural seed clusters that are produced after each flowering period.

Callistemon Reeves Pink is a favorite summer filler flower here on the farm. Its dainty light pink bristles and delicate mint green foliage adds wonderful color and texture to bouquets and arrangements and it even looks fabulous when displayed alone.

What to look for:

• Buy when at least half the flowers in a spike are open and brightly colored. 
• Avoid bunches with drooping tips, yellow leaves or where all flowers are in a tight bud stage.

Callistemon Care:

1. Keep in a cool location. 
2. Strip leaves from the bottom half of each stem and wash stems thoroughly. 
3. Re-cut at least 1/2" off each stem and place in cold water. 
4. Always use a preservative as this will help keep open flowers looking fresh. 
5. Replace vase water every day.