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Menziesii is also referred to as Menzies' banksia, firewood banksia, port wine banksia or 'Raspberry Frost' – all very suitable nicknames for this fabulous flower. Menziesii blooms in the fall when the reddish flowers begin to open from the base. Gradually taking their time, sometimes taking weeks, row after row of flowers open until the flowering reaches the top of the cone, looking like splendid candles on a Christmas tree. This banksia’s essence certainly seems to parallel with The Language of Flowers and the symbol of Protea – Courage and Diversity! Menziesii, not only is a beautiful flower, but strong and powerful one as well. And when it comes to diversity… it looks fabulous mixed with other flowers and foliage.

We're feeling inspired this summer with a fresh take on a favorite orange Banksia: Victoriae or also called Woolly Orange. Lovely ‘acorn’ shaped blooms when they’re fully developed, Victoriae starts as an intriguing woolly, greyish-white bud and becomes a brilliant orange as the styles open out. These styles form an inflorescence that’s made up of hundreds of tiny flowers that open from the base, giving them a fluffy appearance. Victoriae blooms range in size from 6 to 10" in length and 5" in diameter, and have fabulous serrated foliage on long ridged stems. The main flowering season is mid to late summer. They have an extremely long vase life and dry beautifully. What to look for: Inflorescences with the bottom 1/3 of flowers open and fluffy. Clear color - Grey flowers are old. Avoid wet flowers. Flower Care: Keep cool when possible Strip leaves from the bottom half of each stem Re-cut at least 1/2" off each stem and place in cold water. Never bash or split stems...

When it comes to holidays, July 20 has a little something for everyone! Not only is it Mel’s Birthday, Ugly Truck Day and National Fortune Cookie Day, it's also National Lollipop Day! Ah, lollipops… the kid-time favorite is reminiscent of Disneyland where large twister lollipops are a popular treat. What? Not your idea of a ‘healthy’ treat? Swearing off the fake sugars and dyes? Watching calories? Well then, delight your eyes (eye-candy) and arouse your fingers with these texture-packed pops. A beautiful bunch of Blush Lollies or grevillea flowers as we call them, may be one of the healthiest treats you can get. These gorgeous lollipop-like blooms are perfect if you’re looking for something a little unusual and screaming with color. Delightful and ever so sweet, these gorgeous flowers have been satisfying the senses for generations, possibly even for centuries. Did you know that Grevillea flowers were a traditional favorite among Aborigines for their sweet nectar? The pollen c...

We’ve long admired the powerful Banksia. Strong, resilient and bold, this spiny protea is far from a delicate flower—and yet when it blooms, it blooms with the best of them. From long, distinctive cylinder-like flowers to petite round blooms, there’s over 75 diverse species to choose from. And unlike many of the Australian Proteaceae, the main flush of Banksia come not in spring but in summer and autumn. Like clockwork… just before the summer solstice, we’re seeing Banksia Baxteri in full bloom with their lengthy stems reaching high up into the sky. The squat, lime-green buds have fully opened to form globe-shaped flowers surrounded by unique, deeply serrated foliage. Baxteri is also referred to as Bird’s-Nest Banksia, Baxter’s Banksia or in Hawaii, where it is fittingly known as ‘Summer Lime’. A refreshing and revitalizing hue indeed… zesty yellow-green reminding us of Greenery, this year’s Pantone Color of the Year. These nest-shaped blooms offer a whimsical flair to bouquets a...

The brighter the better in some cases, and that’s what we’re loving these days when it comes to banksia. The banksia is a bold and textural bloom that’s displayed in many of our favorite designs. For any season, there’s always a way to make them work no matter what the occasion is. I think the uniqueness of a banksia is what makes it loved by so many of us. When it comes to designing with banksia, the options are seemingly endless. Such an exceptional flower can be transformed by the designer, projecting a different look depending on what else it is paired with it. You can go with natural burgundy, orange or green hues, or add more color to the stems and create a virtual rainbow. I attended the Hortiflorexpo in Shanghai this month, and while in the Lynch Group exhibit, banksias were all the rage. Here are some of the ways they were displayed throughout the booth. What color combination do you like best?

Ten fabulous photos featuring images by Peninsula Wild Flower , a flower-farmer florist located on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria, Australia. Peninsula Wild Flowers supplies locally grown native flowers to Florists and Farmers Markets, as well as does Weddings, special events and holds seasonal design classes.