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 missed any
previous issues of “Proteaceae 101” please
visit this page:
http://www.DiscoverProtea.com/new_media.htm
Please enjoy and have a great festive season.
Flower-worthy dates in December
Flower-worthy dates in December
7th – Pearl Harbor Day
16th – First Day of Hanukah
22nd – First Day of winter
25th – Christmas Day
26th – Boxing Day (Oh, yeah, we don’t celebrate that anymore!)
and Kwanza begins
31st – New Year’s Eve
December Birthstone
Blue Zircon
December Flower of the Month
Narcissus and Holly
While looking for content for this month’s newsletter, I came across an amazing story.
Did you know that the Protea repens was originally known as “Medebos” or “Mebos”?
No? So, let me explain. Translated from the original Dutch it means “Mead Bush”,
like Mead – the alcoholic drink made by fermenting honey, water and flavorings.
One of the indigenous South African Bushman tribes, the Koikoin, made this mead-like
drink from the sugar they found in the Protea repens flower. Later, the common name
for the Protea repens became “Sugarbush”. Even today, repens are sometimes referred
to as Sugarbush. In the photo below, you can see just how popular this flower is with
ants and bees. They are wonderful in a Butterfly Garden setting.
Remember to place your
orders for your Protea Bouquets by
Tuesday December 19th to ensure a timely delivery.
No Christmas feast is complete without a Protea Bouquet
on the dinner table!
It is a good time to start your Protea propagation program. Visit us online at
http://www.DiscoverProtea.com for your Protea Starter Seed Packs.
We also introduced three new seed starter packs:
- Waterwise Starter Packs
- Erica Starter Packs
- South African Bulb Starter Packs
The original Brilliant Restorer – One minute Diamond and Jewelry Cleaner.
It's a spray, no
soaking required. Cleans in just 1 minute. The only retail
jewelry cleaner that offers you a manufacturer's money back guarantee.
It is the only cleaner which can remove hard water from all your jewelry.
Only $4.99 per bottle, just visit us at
http://www.capeflowerfields.com/brilliant_jewelry_cleaner.htm
Holidays are a time for remembering…happy moments, good times, special friends. Have a Happy Holiday from everyone at Cape Flower Fields.
Get those hands dirty!
or suggestions at eugene@DiscoverProtea.com
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.
