I got lost in a proteen field the other day. Fields full of large-flowered beauties to the horizon. And I didn’t even get off my couch to do it – I ended up on the @resendizbrothers Instagram channel. I was fascinated by the rough landscape with the protean plants and what rich wreaths and bouquets were arranged from them.
Are you coming on a trip to the California protea farm? I contacted Diana Roy, the farmer of this infinitely beautiful splendor, and asked if she could chat with me about proteen farming. She chatted a little out of the box.
Protea fields as far as the eye can see – The Resendizbrothers Farm in California
Diana ran a small proteen farm south of Los Angeles on her own for a number of years. “Then one day I realized that my heart beats more for writing and photography than for gardening“, she tells.
Instead of giving up everything, she found a companion and made a deal with him: Ismael ‘Mel’ Resendiz took over the management of her farm and she took care of all his administrative tasks in the back office. This cooperation has now been a successful model for 20 years!
Proteas of all colors and shapes bloom on the Resendizbrothers Farm. Leucadendron, banksia, pincushion proteas, serruria – the variety is gigantic. Next to these exotic beauties there are eucalyptus and wax flowers in the fields.
Up to 50 harvest workers are out in the fields in the main season to harvest the stalks. Customers around the world enjoy the Californian blossoms because they will shipped to Asia and Europe. Maybe you even have a flower from the Resendizbrothers farm in your vase?
Proteins in our online shop
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Serruria Florida “Blushing Bride” white-cream
Away: 2.10€
3.50€ / st
To the product
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Serruria Florida “Blushing Bride pink” pink-cream
Away: 2.37€
3.95€ / st
To the product
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Protea – King Protea “Madiba” coral-pink
Away: 7.46€
9.95€ / st
To the product
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Brunia ‘Albiflora’ – coffee bush – silvery white
Away: 1.35€
1.80€ / st
To the product
Protea – how does this exotic beauty grow?
Did you know that Proteen belongs to one of the oldest plant families in the world? They have been growing on our planet for over 300 million years and have even been found on the prehistoric continent of Gondwana. Protea got its name after the Greek god Prometheus. They symbolize exceptional elegance and the courage to remain true to oneself over a long period of time.
Proteas thrive in a Mediterranean climate with wet winters and hot, dry summers. The key factor for good growth is the right soil: “It has to be mineral and low in nutrients. it’s better not to use fertilizers,” reveals Diana.
4 tips for optimal Proteen care in the vase
What is the best way to care for a Protea? It is important to heed the rules of good cut flower care:
tip 1:
Cut the stalk at an angle
tip 2:
Place in fresh water immediately after cutting
tip 3:
Trim the stem and change the water frequently
tip 4:
Find a rather cool vase location, away from direct sunlight or heated air.
“Proteen are also great for making dried flowers yourself‘ Diana recommends. After maximum flower opening, simply remove the stem from the water and store in a dark, dry place for about a month. If you don’t have the patience for this, you can also order various proteas directly to your home as dried flowers.
Inspiration: Wreaths and bouquets made from Proteen
I think it’s amazing what great arrangements Diana conjures up with the Proteen. How does she do it? “My biggest source of inspiration is Instagram and Pinterest. When it comes to workpieces with roses or peonies, I ask myself: How could this idea be implemented with Proteen?”. Come out wonderful exotic wreaths, bouquets and arrangementswhich she shares on Instagram with her fans around the world.
From large XXL wreaths made purely from protea blossoms to hanging Christmas tree decorations made from dried king protea. I am amazed at this creativity and finally show you some of my favorites from her Instagram channel.
I’m still dreaming a little bit about a real trip to California that I want to take after the pandemic. Until then, I’ll walk across the protea fields on the @resendizbrothers Instagram channel and enjoy a bouquet full of fresh protea on my living room table.
The post Flower Journey: Excursion to the Californian Proteen Farm “Resendizbrothers” first appeared on Blumigo.