Resendiz Brothers' Harvest News

Harvest News

Sharing the beauty of Fynbos & Australian natives, especially the family of Proteaceae!

Festive Fall Designs

When it comes to the changing of the seasons, there's nothing more stirring than when summer fades into fall. We transition into the cooler weather with rich, saturated colors and riveting textures. These warmer hues often play up the excitement of the season; plus, falling temps means we all have an excuse to bring ‘more’ of nature indoors. Fall is a time for all of these things, and for Protea (especially Pink Ice), making it the ideal time to let the autumn vibes flow with captivating festive designs.

3 Gorgeous Autumn Banksia

Within the wonderfully diverse world of proteas, the Banksia ranks among the best known and most spectacular genera of the Australian Proteaceae. Comprising of around a 178 species, plus 19 naturally occurring varieties, these amazing plants are extremely popular for their colorful flower spikes and foliage. Far from a delicate flower, yet when it blooms, this bristly protea’s vibrancy and textures are unrivaled. The styles form an inflorescence made up of hundreds of tiny flowers that open from the base, giving it a fluffy appearance.

Leucadendron Ebony - Burgundy Sunset

From early autumn through winter… the Leucadendron fields here in Rainbow take on so many warm, earthy hues. An array of stunning species, sub-species and cultivars will soon be flaunting their showy bracts.

Leucadendron Ebony or also called ‘Burgundy Sunset’ was named because of its purple-black leaves, a very distinct feature when compared to the green foliage of ‘Safari Sunset’ (the species from which it evolved). When Ebony blooms, the bracts that surround the ‘true flower’ turn a deep wine-red delivering a stunning cluster of flowers!

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 adorns the long and straight stem.

Fabulous Foliage: Eucalyptus

Native to down under, there are over 900 species of eucalyptus trees. The name eucalyptus comes from the ancient Greek words eu meaning “good” and kalypto meaning “cover”. And besides being known as a koala bear’s favorite treat, the foliage is also loved for its soothing scent and interesting shapes and textures. Ranging from silver dollar sized, to slender, to long and oval-shaped, eucalyptus foliage is instantly recognizable. The leaves can be blue to green and silver, and often have a waxy coating that makes them appear frosted.

Mel's Field Notes

Autumn has officially arrived! We've managed to shake off those 'dog days of summer' and hopefully all the heatwaves are behind us. We’re already embracing this new season here on the farm and up in the fields.

When cooler weather arrives, there's nothing better than decorating, especially with beautiful flowers. They warm up a room and boost your mood. Even those of us living in more temperate climates would agree that there's something about bringing nature indoors that can do just that. Our attraction to flowers is timeless and universal. I’d also say that we are drawn to them no matter our age, physical condition, or stage of life.

And with autumn comes a bounty of fabulous Protea (Pink Ice, Neriifolia, Grandicolor + more) making it easy to create seasonal décor for our home and workspace. Who doesn’t love a festive wreath or beautiful centerpiece? Protea, Banksia, Leucadendron and an array of fabulous foliage + fruited branches, and of course pumpkins, just seem to 'fall’ into place.

The arrival of fall always gets me thinking about the up-coming 'Flower Season'. Yes... 2022-2023 can you believe it? From October through the end of June we'll be back in our 'harvest mode' full-time, which gradually builds up to Valentine's Day extending through Mother's Day and finally winding down as summer begins. That basically describes our circle of life here in Rainbow!

Have a wonderful month of October!

Mel