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.
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/11_Nov_Newsletter.htm.
If
you missed any previous issues of “Proteaceae 101” please
visit this page:
http://www.DiscoverProtea.com/new_media.htm
Please enjoy and have a great month.
Flower-worthy dates in October/November
October
29th – Daylight Saving Time Ends (set clocks back one hour)
31st – Halloween
November
7th – Election Day
11th – Veterans Day
23rd – Thanksgiving
October Birthstone
Pink Tourmaline/Sapphire (pink)
November Birthstone
Citrine (yellow)
October Flower of the Month
Cosmos
November Flower of the Month
Chrysanthemum
dedicated to photographs and art of these magnificent
flowers. With their exotic shapes, colors and textures,
these flowers make spectacular subjects for photographers,
artists and graphic designers. Personally, I fall into two
of those categories and, that was my initial attraction to
Protea. Visit our Website at http://www.DiscoverProtea.com
fascinating flowers
The Proteaceae family is found in a vast variety of
vegetations, from savannas and grassland to heavily
overgrown hillsides. They thrive in areas that are prone to
periodic wild fires – like Southern California, Australia
and South Africa. Many of the Proteaceae have evolved
specialized survival techniques in response to these fires.
Their strong root systems and thick bark on some varieties,
have given these extraordinary plants the ability survive
the heat and smoke generated by fires. In fact, fire and
smoke provide the major trigger in the wild for the
Proteaceae seeds to start the germination process. Seed can
lie dormant for years waiting for the right conditions,
usually brought on by veldt fires. For these fire-sensitive
species, habitat burning is the single most important cue
for triggering germination of the dormant seed.
This does not mean that you have to set back yard on fire
to successfully grow Protea in your garden. You probably
won’t be collecting seed and starting new plants that way
in any case. Luckily, there are nurseries that specialize
in Protea and some wonderful online recourses.
For Protea care, arrangement and gift tips, visit the Web site at
http://www.DiscoverProtea.com. The Web site donates 10% of
bouquet profits to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
International.
Our Protea ‘California
Fall Bouquets’ are now available
at http://www.DiscoverProtea.com
Protea repens is a small evergreen shrub which may grow to
about 12 ft tall but is best kept at 6 to 10 ft in the
garden. The individual flowers vary in color from pure
white to rose pink to deep pink. In California, they
commonly grow a form which is rose-pink, flowering from
August to December. The leaves are elliptic and narrow,
usually greenish-yellow. Nectar collects in the base of
the flower. Bees and birds find this nectar irresistible.
Some of the syrup seeps to the outside making the flowers
slightly sticky and explaining the plants common name -
Honey Protea or Sugarbush. The natural habitat of
Protea repens is the southern tip of South Africa from sea
level up to 4000 ft. So, when growing in California and
Hawaii, they tolerate both coastal conditions and places
where there are light frosts. The local South Africans used
to boil down the flower bases to produce syrup used as
cough syrup. If you continue the boiling you can get sugar.
More about this next month.
This is the time of year to start (or continue) your Protea
propagation program. Visit us online at
http://www.DiscoverProtea.com for your Protea Starter Seed
Packs.
For Protea care, arrangement and gift tips, visit our
Website at http://www.DiscoverProtea.com. The Website also
donates 10% of bouquet profits to the Juvenile Diabetes
Research Foundation International.
Please feel free to e-mail me with any questions, comments
or suggestions at eugene@DiscoverProtea.com
Get those hands dirty!
people that are smarter that you are".
in order to get you most accurate and up-to-date information
about growing Protea.
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. Interested in growing Protea commercially?
Lawrence can help. Contacted him at lawrence@rainbowprotea.com
nursery specializing in ornamental trees and shrubs for
Californian gardens. Their nursery grows many plants from
the Australian protea family, such as banksia, grevillea,
hakea and isopogon as well as small eucalypts, acacias and
leptospermums. They also grow South African leucadendrons,
leucospermums and proteas. Jo travels to Australia each
year in search of new species to introduce into Californian
gardens. They have seed and plants available for mail
order. The nursery is operated by owner Jo O'Connell, an
Australian horticulturist from Sydney. Contact Jo at
1-800-701-6517 or email: ausnat@west.net
(San Diego, CA) is a unique 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 wide 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.
At the recent "Spring Home and Garden Show" in San Diego, CA,
they were awarded, 2nd Place Best in Show, Compatibility of
Plant Material, Perfection in Nomenclature as well as three
outstanding specimen awards. Visit them at
http://www.barrelsandbranches.com/ or contact Samantha
or Danica at (760)753-2852.
