Cultivation Of Crops: 2017

Why Royal Lilies are the Perfect Flowers For Mother's Day

Every Mother's Day Season, our teams harvest hundreds of thousands of flowers, and each year, certain varieties will emerge as the Perfect Mother's Day Bloom. This year, it's our phenomenal crops of LA Hybrids, aka Royal Lilies.

This year's long, rainy winter and extra-cool spring in Northern California has blessed us with an outstanding harvest of Royal Lilies, just in time for Mother's Day. Why do these flowers stand out as perfect gifts for mom? First, and foremost, is their distinctive lasting ability (much like mom!). The "hybrid" in LA Hybrid has given them one of the strongest vase lives out of all the lilies, offering an extended, unparalleled enjoyment for those who receive them. These are the flowers that give further joy with each additional day of fantastic bloom, and two weeks after Mother's Day, you can be sure mom will still be enjoying their beauty! Behind their elegant shape is an implicit strength--You can feel it in their thick, sturdy stems and healthy, plump petals.

Royal Lilies are made even better by their large bud size and giant blooms (larger than traditional Asiatics). They have a wide-ranging, warm color palette, with hues ranging from pastel pinks and peaches to dark reds and fuchsias to bright oranges and yellows. Have a look at that great color spread of one our LA Hybrid test rows below:

Our Diamond Series Royal Lilies

Royal Lilies also have another unseen benefit -- they have virtually no scent. Though many people may love the intoxicating fragrance of an Oriental lily (myself included) it can be too much for those with sensitive noses. You can fill an entire room with Royal Lilies and it will not interfere with the smell of a meal nor affect one's allergies. I will be sending both my mom and my grandma Royal Lilies this Mother's Day; although only one has a sensitive nose, they will both love the dazzling display and enduring enjoyment that Royal Lilies Provide.

Yellow Diamond Lilies

Give your mother a long-lasting gift this Mother's Day! An American Grown LA Hybrid Lily, bred with the best of the best in mind.

2016 Flowers in Review

2016 flower trends 2017 flower trends new year year in review

This last year was a doozy, wasn't it? Between an upsetting amount of celebrity deaths, a heart-stopping, 7-game World Series, and the craziest election season on record, I do believe Merriam-Webster hit the nail on the head when they declared the 2016 Word of the Year to be "surreal."

But 2016 wasn't all drama and confusion...Remember when the adorable Giant Panda was declared no longer endangered? Or when the unemployment rate dropped to its lowest in nine years? Or when coffee was found to be good for you? *takes a long sip*

So, before we banish 2016 to the history books, let's have a look at the Top 5 Flower Talk articles from the past year.

2016 Flowers in Review

Number 5: Field to Vase Comes to Arcata

The American Grown Field to Vase Dinner Tour is a series of events which has been taking the country by storm for the past two years. Last year, it kicked off its 2016 tour at our farm in Arcata. Our tulip greenhouse was transformed into an elegant, intimate setting overflowing with tulips, iris, and lilies. Friends, farmers, and flower lovers alike dined on locally grown food, beer, and wine prepared by farm-to-table chefs, and enjoyed a flower presentation by Flora Organica Designs, as well as readings by Amy Stewart and Debra Prinzing.

This year, the Field to Vase Tour has announced they will be going to Alaska, which I'm sure will be quite the visual and gastronomical treat. Stay tuned to see where Field to Vase will be dazzling in 2017.

Number 4: The Flowers of the Dead

I suppose it isn't so surprising that our 4th most-read post was about the flowers of Día de Los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead. The past year did feel heavy with loss as the world collectively mourned the passing of David Bowie, Prince, Leonard Cohen, Carrie Fischer, Debbie Reynolds, Gene Wilder, Leon Russell....(and the list goes on).

The Flowers of the Dead explores the history and tradition of Day of the Dead celebration, and the flowers used to commemorate death and honor its relationship to life.

Number 3: Everlasting Summer Hydrangeas

Yes, we get it. You love hydrangeas. These coastal mopheads have made the Flowers in Review countdown for the last two years, and no wonder. The past couple of seasons have seen us bringing new, hybridized varieties to the market, and our long growing season means everyone can have hydrangeas nearly 6 months of the year (including antiques).

That's a lot of hydrangea to love, and don't worry, hydrangea season (and sunshine) will be here soon enough.

Number 2: Pantone Color of the Year

It's as if Pantone knew that 2016 was going to be a stressful trip around the sun. Last year, for the first time in its history, Pantone chose two hues for the Color of the Year--Rose Quartz and Serenity (13-1520 and 15-3919, respectively).

Floral design had a field day with these two colors in 2016. The colors naturally complement each other; plus, an almost limitless combination of corresponding palettes made matching other colors and flowers with these hues easy and fun.

For 2017, Pantone's color of the year is Greenery, a "zesty yellow green" shade which bursts forth with freshness, rejuvenation, and hope. We'll be discussing Greenery and its color complements in next week's Flower Talk, so stay tuned for some helpful color palettes and fun floral design ideas.

Number 1: Aromatherapy & Oriental Lilies

This most-read post of 2016 was one of the most fun to research and write; it explored the connection between stress relief and Oriental lilies and revealed some fascinating information about floral compounds, psychology, and our sense of smell.

It seems that floral education continues to be a popular read. Last year's most-read post was my Lily Scent Guide, which broke down which types of lilies smell and which lilies do not. These two lily posts show that floral education will continue in its upward trend, and we are here to answer that call, so you can definitely look forward to more fascinating flower information and education here in 2017!

So here's to 2016, and Happy 2017! We can't wait to spend it with you!