Welcome to 'PEP', our
“Protea Education Program”. Our
ultimate goal is to educate and inform about the benefits of
Protea...flowers beyond the ordinary. Your questions,
comments and suggestions are always appreciated. It’s
because of your feedback that we decided to change to our
new newsletter format.
Remember to add this e-mail address to your address book to
ensure you receive our newsletter promptly. If you have trouble
viewing this email, please click here:
http://www.DiscoverProtea.com/02_Mar_Newsletter.htm
Please enjoy and have a great March.
Flower-worthy dates in March
1st - Ash Wednesday
17th - St. Patrick’s Day
20th - First Day of spring
March Birthstone
Aquamarine (light blue)
March Flower of the Month
Jonquil - aka narcissus or daffodils
Top Ten Flower Vase Life Rankings and Care
Tips How long
will that gift bouquet of flowers last? Most living things
respond favorably to a little care and attention, and
floral bouquets are no different. Here is how long the top
ten popular cut flowers can last in a vase with proper
care, courtesy of http://www.DiscoverProtea.com:
1. King Protea, also known as King Sugar Bush,
vase life of 14 to 21 days, split stem ends for maximum
water absorption
2. Pincushion Protea, vase life of 14 to 21 days, add
sugar to vase water to prolong life
3. Carnation, vase life of 14 to 21 days, very durable
4. Chrysanthemum, vase life of 7 to 14 days, check water
levels frequently as flowers are susceptible to bacteria
5. Daisy, vase life of 7 to 14 days, check water levels
frequently as flowers are susceptible to bacteria
6. Roses, vase life of 7 to 10 days, do not remove thorns
from stem and check water frequently
7. Sunflowers, vase life of 7 to 10 days, keep well watered to
maintain strong stems
8. Lily, vase life of 4 to 8 days, beware of easy bruising
9. Tulips, vase life of 3 to 7 days, place under a light source
10. Iris, vase life of 2 to 4 days, buds can be forced open by
peeling back the protective leaf
In addition to topping the list, Protea never die, they
just dry, and the dried flowers make colorful displays.
These natives of South Africa are available year-round from
California growers. For Protea care, arrangement and gift
tips, visit our Web site at http://www.DiscoverProtea.com.
The Web site donates 10% of bouquet profits to the Juvenile
Diabetes Research Foundation International.
Yes, we did talk about pincushions last month, but,
they are spectacular this time of year and deserve another
mention. The floral industry has adopted the name
"Pincushion Protea" for this wonderfully exotic flower.
Shelf life of this exotic mass flower is exceptional...
ranging between 14 and 21 days. Colors range from yellow
to orange to red. Our #1 Select Designer Protea Grade
bouquets are still featuring this colorful flower, together
with ‘Cape Greens’ and other foliage. Our Protea
‘California Spring Bouquets’ are now available at
http://www.DiscoverProtea.com
This is the time of year to start (or continue) your Protea
propagation program. Visit us online at
http://www.capeflowerfields.com for your Protea Starter Seed Packs.
Please feel free to e-mail me with any questions, comments
or suggestions at eugenebrill@gmail.com
Get those hands dirty!
people that are smarter that you are".
and I will post your question with an answer in the next issue of Proteaceae 101.
up-to-date answers to your questions.
for sale? I've tried looking for one in the usual
gardening supply catalogs and in one commercial grower
catalog but couldn't find anything suitable. Any
information you can provide will be greatly appreciated.
Fallbrook, CA
Programmable Timer with a MIST cycle that features 20
seconds ON, 5 minutes OFF and that is easy to use and gives
the desired results. It comes with a water-resistant
self-standing clam shell and is designated for
non-commercial use. I don’t know why except for the limited
capacity of this timer – it works just fine for any small
operation. The model # is 5945 and is available at most
national hardware chains that carry Nelson products. It is
also available online at Sprinkler Warehouse. Look for it
under ‘Hose Ends’. It sells for ± $45.00.
California, Lawrence brings to the table Protea knowledge
from both hemispheres. Lawrence is a second generation
Protea grower from South Africa and an active member of the
California Protea Association. Lawrence is also on the
planning committee for the International Protea Conference
(IPA) that will be held from March 30th t to April 4th in
San Diego, California. He can be contacted at
lawrence@rainbowprotea.com. Information about the IPA
conference is available at http://www.ipa2006conference.org.
a unique new nursery called Barrels and Branches.
Meandering down the pathways you will enjoy the tranquil
sounds of water and wildlife, while discovering many
unusual plants that thrive in this area. This retail
garden center has a side variety of perennials, succulents,
California natives fountains and fine pottery. In addition
to being a full service nursery, maintenance and design
services are also available. You will feel like you have
discovered your own personal retreat, welcomed by friendly
knowledgeable landscape professionals to assist you.
Barrels and Branches is a convenient one mile east of the
I-5 freeway, close to the intersection of Santa Fe drive
and El Camino Real. Contact Samantha or Danica at (760)753-2852.
