Creating Magical Holiday Ambience: Proteas & Candles

What do you get when you pair seasonal proteas and the warm glow of candles? The perfect holiday ambience, of course. Together, they evoke not just elegance and romance, but they unite the powers of the mind, body and spirit. The proteas’ textural styles and colorful bracts add an interesting contrast to the subtle lighting created by candles. There's definitely a seasonal seduction, too. When you use an array of winter proteaceae, like Serruria, Leucadendron, Protea, Grevillea and Banksia, you're celebrating the glories of nature. Plus, festive scented candles provide winter-like aromas (cinnamon, gingerbread, vanilla and pine) that enhance your mood and feelings of calm and tranquility.

No matter what the occasion… Christmas, Hanukkah or Just Because, striking centerpieces adorned with candles cast a lovely light over the table and deliver all the merry-makings for a magical day.

How to Make Your Protea Wreath Last

As holiday wreaths go up, we love the idea of replacing the faux with fresh protea and greens. But what can you do to help ensure the longevity of your wreath once you’ve placed it in that special place? Follow these simple steps:

Soak to Hydrate

Whether you decide to hang the wreath in the heat of your house or the chilly air outside, these winter environments are dry, and the flowers have no source of moisture. If you have a large enough container or tub place the wreath in a couple inches of water to allow it to 'drink' from the back where the stems are. Let it soak for a few of hours, or if you want optimal results, your wreath should stay in the water for a full day.

Moisturize Often

You will need to adjust the amount of water your wreath requires based on where you put it. A wreath displayed outside in a cool climate will require misting once a day. A wreath kept outside in a warm climate or displayed indoors will need frequent watering or misting. This helps the wreath retain moisture by sealing the pores on the proteas and foliage.

Avoid Direct Sunlight and Heat

It can be tempting to place the wreath in a spot where it gets direct sunlight. But direct light can dry out the flowers and foliage, whether you place them indoors or outdoors! If you decide to hang your wreath indoors in a heated room, keep in mind that it probably won’t last as long because they favor a colder climate to thrive.

Enjoy – Happy Holidays...

After the flowers begin to fade, cease spraying, and let the wreath dry naturally. Protea don’t die, they dry Beautifully and will continue to spruce up your home for months.

Thanksgiving Décor: The Horn of Plenty

When it comes to Thanksgiving, we can’t think of a more iconic symbol of the holiday… called the Horn of Plenty because it comes from the Latin word cornus which means horn and copia which means plenty. They’re often brimming with a bounty of fruits and grains, but our favorites are, you guessed it, mostly proteas.

Thanksgiving has always been epic to harvest time, and it's always taken place in the autumn… so, naturally this holiday would include the cornucopia, which represents all of those things. Beyond that assumption though, at what time the cornucopia made its way into our country's consciousness as a Thanksgiving symbol is difficult to say. But with its meaning of abundance, prosperity and good fortune, the horn of plenty now embodies Americans’ thoughts of thankfulness. Whether referred to as a cornucopia or horn of plenty… the meaning of this ancient symbol still resonates today.

So, gather up your favorite fruit, flowers + foliage and create something beautiful!

Spooktacular Pumpkin Art

The vibes your autumn decor gives off depends entirely on what you pair them with. While we typically associate pumpkins with Halloween, they are suitable for so much more. Left whole, they can sit at many angles to give everyone at the table a beautiful view. Cut open, they make excellent containers for flowers when hollowed out. While most popular in hues of orange, white and green, pumpkins offer wonderful options for color schemes, especially when they are paired with protea and other unique botanicals.

Simplely Gourd-geous!

Here is what you need to make your own:

• Fresh pumpkin 

• Knife 

• Clear plastic sheet or container 

• Chicken wire or Floral foam (optional) 

• Flowers, foliage, berries, cones, fruit 

• Clippers 

• Spray paint (optional)

Make it!

Carve your pumpkin so that you have a wide opening near the center of the pumpkin. Scoop out the seeds and pulp. Line the inside of the pumpkin with a sheet of plastic or container. If desired, cut a piece of floral foam with the knife to fit inside the pumpkin. Choose flowers and foliage with strong straight stems (proteas are perfect)! Insert the chicken wire or pre-soaked floral foam into the pumpkin and create your arrangement. Start with foliage, then add flowers, fruit, and other embellishments to create a full and interesting centerpiece.

A Time of Remembrance: Dia de Los Muertos

November 1st and 2nd, people around the world celebrate The Day of the Dead also known Dia de los Muertos. It is believed that during these two days, the souls of the dead come back to visit their living loved ones.

Dia de Los Muertos is a time for families and friends to pay tribute and send love to those who are no longer on Earth. Unlike Halloween the day before, this celebration is not about terror and tricks but instead, it is a time of remembrance.

Unfolding in a burst of color and life-sustaining joy, the fete is not limited to a few main colors like black and orange: it's a delightful display of vibrant hues like bright purples, pinks, orange, blues, white, and black. During this time, people journey to their family burial grounds and decorate their loved one's graves or ofrendas (alters) in a festive and fun way. Portraits of the deceased, along with items that belonged to them or they enjoyed (like a favorite beverage or snack) are included in the decor.

The cempasúchil, a variety of marigold flower native to Mexico, is often placed on ofrendas and around graves. Their vibrant color petals are used to make a path that leads the spirits from the cemetery to their families’ homes. Plus, the marigold’s distinct smell when paired with the right kind of candle, allows the departed to return for a brief time to enjoy the pleasures of the world they left behind once more.

Death is considered part of the journey of life. Rather than death being the end of life. Families view death as the beginning of the cycle of seasons and new life.

Fall’s Fabulous Flush

It takes just a peek out in the fields to remind us that fall has, indeed, made its way to this side of the equator. I always find that the sky is prettiest in the autumn, it seems to take on a warm golden glow that reminds me of the word ‘harvest’. That awareness as nature yields its final flush and soon the fields will begin anew - is always a hint to take pause and reflect.

There’s something so magical about this time of the year. The bountiful plants standing tall with blooms reaching high into the autumn sky, protea by the arm loads gathered into glorious bundles and pickups overflowing with the day’s yield. Fall’s fabulous flush is a cause for celebration and the ideal time to share the ambiance of the season harvest. Each gorgeous protea transforms everyday life here on the farm — growing, harvesting, and even transporting—into works of art.

Autumn...the year's last, loveliest smile. - William Cullen Bryant

Fall Must-Have: Grandicolor

Grandicolor. This unique and alluring Protea is a mix of grandiceps and aurea, a rare combo to say the least. Shades of cream play across the bracts as they deepen to peach at the base. Bi-color pink and white lashes provide a delicate edging to the rusty-red center. Silvery-green egg-shape foliage with a leathery feel vigorously adorn the long and straight stem.

Just when you think your fall floral collection is complete, Grandicolor blooms. Designs rich in these early-autumn blooms reflect the spirit and joy of the upcoming holiday season. Plus, these exquisite, medium sized blooms can be tucked in and added to just about any fall arrangements — they’re chic, colorful, and just in time.