March Flowers

March Flowers

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What native flowers are available in March?  

I often get asked what will be available at certain times of the year.  Maybe its a wedding, maybe a big event but to plan ahead, its always helpful to know what flowers might be available.  At Swallows Nest Farm, all our flowers are grown out in the paddock, not in poly-tunnels or controlled environments, so they are dependant upon the seasonal differences in rainfall, temperature and sunlight to bring them into bloom.  This means that the plants will often flower earlier or later according to the variable conditions.  Having said that, we can make some predictions based on past years performances.  I decided to do a series of blog posts, one for each month of the year to provide some guidance with planning ahead for weddings and events. 

So here's what you can expect from Swallows Nest Farm in March.

Protea Pink Ice

Protea Pink Ice are a favourite in the flower industry because of their beautiful clear pink colour, and their growth characteristics.  In Tasmania, we have Pink Ice for almost 12 months of the year.  March being the beginning of autumn, we see a flush of flowers with lots of beautiful clear pink proteas.  I really think Pink Ice are at their best in Autumn.

Gum Nuts - Corymbia Ficifolia

Gum Nuts can be sourced all year round too, as the nuts are retained by the trees after setting seed.  But because the Corymbia Ficifolia are often just finishing flowering in March, the gum nuts are in the forefront of our minds.  They come in grey-brown as above, when they have been on the tree for more than 12 months.  Under 12 months they still retain a green outer colour but are big and plump and woody.   If picked too soon after setting fruit, the nuts will wither and wrinkle rather than keep their shape.  

Bright Pink Corymbia Ficifolia - Flowering Gum in a range of red, pink and orange

Flowering gum is a mid to late summer flower in Tasmania.  In March there will still be trees that are producing blossom like this stunning hot pink.  There is a diverse range of colour in this species of tree - very light pink so that it's almost white through to the richest blood red, as well as bright orange, coral, salmon and all the variants in between.  A truly gorgeous flower!

Bouquet by Swallows Nest Farm

This bouquet from an early March wedding shows Protea Pink Ice, Flowering Gum and Gum Nuts in use.  

Photography by Sarah Williams

It also uses a range of foliages in blue-grey. 

Burnia Albiflora

The bouquet above also has one of my favourites, the Brunia Albiflora.  It is a summer flower here in Tasmania and we have never picked it before Christmas here.  It begins to be ready for picking some time in January and continues to flower through February and March and even into April if it is not all picked and sold!

Brunia Albiflora starting to flower

In March, depending upon the seasonal changes, it can start to flower.  Tiny little flowers begin to burst forming a ring around each ball.

Brunia Albiflora in full flower

The flowers continue to open until all the entire bunch is covered.  Brunia a great to use at any time during its flowering process.  

Red Mini King Protea

Here at Swallows Nest Farm, our red Mini King proteas have flowered in Spring Summer and Autumn.  Early Autumn seems to be their favourite time to flower, so you can expect to see some availability in March.

Banksia Occidentalis

Banksia Occidentalis is a rich red banksia that starts to flower here in late summer and continues on until early winter.  It has a beautiful clean red colour in Autumn and is a joy to use.

March Wedding Bouquet by Swallows Nest Farm

This March bouquet uses the red Mini Kings and the Banksia Occidentalis. You can also see a flowering Brunia and some mature gum nuts.  The proteas used a variety of P. Compacta which has a rich red centre and soft pink outer bracts, giving a slightly different look to the Protea Pink Ice.  We have a limited supply of this Compacta protea available in March.

Wedding Reception Decorations by Swallows Nest Farm

Flowering Brunia, Protea Pink Ice and Banksia Occidentalis are the main flowers used here in these table decorations for an early March wedding.  The orange Pincushions are a Leucospermum called Fountain, and are a late flowering variety that we grow here at Swallows Nest Farm.  It can vary in colour from apricot through to deep salmon.  When the flowers first begin to open, they are lighter and have a purplish tinge to their unfolded tips.  Then, as the flower opens and matures, the colour deepens.

March Wedding Decorations by Swallows Nest Farm

In this close-up of the same table arrangements, you can see Banksia Occidentalis, Brunia starting to flower,   

These colourful table decorations for a wedding in late March show plenty of March flowers being used - the rich red Banksia Occidentalis, creamy yellow Banksia Marginata, flowering Brunia, Pink Ice Protea and some new season Silvan Red Leucadendrons.  

A detail of a large urn arrangement for a march wedding using Pink Ice, Banksia Occidentalis, flowering Brunia, and lots of lovely fresh foliage.  

Protea White Ice

Protea White Ice flowers from spring through to autumn here in Tasmania but it can vary in numbers depending on the season.  In Autumn, the colour is clear and clean - so beautiful!

Banksia Baxterii - Birdsnest Banksia

Banksia Baxterii is a gorgeous Australian Native that flowers in late summer and autumn.  We are planting more of these beauties because we love them so much.  Their foliage is gorgeous too and can be used in arrangements as a feature in itself.

March Wedding Bouquet by Swallows Nest Farm

This bouquet from late March shows the last of the Fountain Pincushions bringing some colour amongst the creams and whites.  There is a White Ice Protea, Banksia Baxterii, smaller Banksia Marginata, and flowering Bruina.  Some early green leaucos, Gandogerii, Silver Tree, Wattle, Flowering Gum and Tea Tree are all in the mix too.

Rison Peppermint in bud

Risdon Peppermint is a gorgeous blue gum foliage that is native to Tasmania.  It's juvenile leaves, when the new growth has had time to harden off, can be stunning, especially when it it in bud as it is here.  Its a joy to use in arrangements and bouquets.

Leucadendron Argenteum - Silver Tree

Leucadendron Argenteum, also known as Silver Tree, is a stunning foliage plant that is ready to use in March.  In early summer, it is growing and can't be picked because its tips are wilty, but by March the new growth is soft, silky and luscious and ready for use.  It is difficult to photograph how silvery this amazing plant is.  

Silver Tree Cones

The Silver Tree also produces beautiful silvery cones at the end of summer, and these are available in March in limited numbers.  Silver Tree cones are rare as they are only produced on mature female trees.  We feel so privileged to be able to provide them.  

Fountain Pincushion

We grow a late flowering pincushion here at Swallows Nest Farm that continues to flower until autumn.  We have two slightly different colours - a rich orange and a pinky deep salmon.  These are usually still available in good quantities in March.

Protea Repens - Sugarbush Protea

Protea Repens begin flowering in Autumn.  Depending on the seasonal differences, they will begin appearing in March.  We have a range of colours from rich pink to red, light pink and creamy yellow.

This late march bouquet combines 2 varieties of protea - White Ice and Red Compacta, with a Banksia Baxterii and a flowering Brunia.  Lots of late march foliages including lemon-scented tea tree and Leucadendron Galpinii are also used.

I hope this gives some ideas as to what sort of flowers you might expect from Swallows Nest Farm in the month of March.  All flowers are subject to availability and you are encouraged to contact us if you need more information.

swallowsnestfarm@hotmail.com

Late Summer Wedding at Avalon Coastal Retreat

Late Summer Wedding at Avalon Coastal Retreat

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In late February, I provided flowers for a wedding at Avalon Coastal Retreat at Swansea on Tasmania's east coast.  Its a stunning  location with views of some of Tassie's most picturesque coastline.  The bride loved flowering gum and wattle, and February delivered on both counts.  

I created a bouquet for the bride using three different shades of Corymbia Ficifolia, a popular flowering gum that blooms in late summer here in Tasmania.  A rich, hot pink, candy pink and baby pink formed the bulk of the bouquet.  Acacia Retinodes is a wattle native to the southern states of Australia that flowers periodically throughout the year.  Some long arching branches from a local tree provided the wattle blooms.  Acacia Retinodes keeps its form quite well when picked, unlike some species of wattle which last only a short time.  I also love the foliage of the Acacia Retinodes, which falls happily.

The pastel tones of the bouquet included a Protea Pink Cream, an orange Pincushion Cordifolium, and a touch of blue with a Nigella flower from the garden.  The olive-green berries are a pittosporum berry. I also used Leucadendron Pisa which at the end of summer has large silvery white cones surrounded by yellow and lime green bracts.  

Other bouquet ingredients include Brunia Albiflora, Leucadendron Silver Tree, Bronze Fennel flowers, Eucalyptus Cordata foliage, and Irish Juniper foliage.

For the groom's boutonniere, I used Corymbia Ficifolia in hot pink, with a large Corymbia leaf at the back.  A sprig of eucalyptus, some Acacia Retinodes, Leucadendron Pisa and a Nigella bud where the other flowers used.  

The bride wanted a floral crown to match her bouquet.  Local coastal tea-tree foliage dotted with Brunia balls made the circlet.  

Flowering gum, wattle, L. Pisa cones, eucalyptus and Nigella were added as a focal point.

The design of the other boutonnieres was a simpler version of the groom's, showcasing the just the wattle.  

I loved using the Acacia Retinodes.  

The bride ordered wholesale flowers for some DIY fun, to make up the bridesmaid's bouquets.  What she saved on costs, she used to order wrist corsages.

They were a lot of fun to make, using tea tree foliage, eucalyptus, different shades of flowering gum with a Leucadendron Pisa cone.  I also popped in some sprigs of wattle, and some of the olive green pittosporum berries.  

I think they were a great alternative to the traditional pin-on corsage.  This was a great wedding to be involved in.  I really loved the colours the I got to play with and was really happy with the results, particularly the brides bouquet.  

February Flowers

February Flowers

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What's flowering in February?

February is a bridge between seasons, with availability of some late summer flowers as well as some early autumn blooms.  The first thing I notice as a grower is that the Protea Pink Ice begin to bloom again in larger numbers.  They look fresh and clean as their autumn flush begins towards the end of February.  

Protea Pink Ice available in good quantities in February

They are a great flower adding colour with their pink outer bracts and purple centres, but also providing highlights with their icy white tips which catch the light when used in bouquets.

Banksia Occidentalis

Banksia Occidentalis begins to flower in late summer.  It is at its best when the days are still long and full of sunshine to intensify the colour while the flowers are on the bush.  I grow 2 different colour types.  The one pictured above is a rich pinky red with a red central core and red pins.  Not pictured are a more orangey red which have a warm yellow central core with rich red pins, that gives the flower a warmer look overall.

Banksia Occidentalis

They're a great long-lasting flower providing intense colour and fabulous texture.

February Bouquet by Swallows Nest Farm

This February bouquet teamed Protea Pink Ice and Banksia Occidentalis in a texture rich Australian Native design.  I used a lovely light pink shade of Corymbia Ficifolia, a summer flowering gum that comes in many shades.  It is available in Summer over a period of a couple of months, depending on weather conditions.  I also used the Corymbia gum nuts, still green from the previous years flowering.  

Bouquets for a February Wedding by Swallows Nest Farm

You can also see late flowering Pincushions called Leucospermum Fountain.  In the mix is some red Kangaroo Paw, and new season Leucadendron Safari Sunset which are beginning to be available in small numbers in February. 

Clockwise from left:  Leucospermum (Pincushion) Fountain,  Risdon Peppermint Foliage,  Leucadendron Silvan Red, Banksia Occindentalis, Protea Pink Ice

This collection of flowers are all available and looking great in February.

 

Leucospermum (Pincushion) Fountain

The Pincushion, L. Fountain are a great late flowering variety that start to bloom around Christmas and keep going until February and even March.  When they first begin to flower they are a lighter apricot orange.  As the flowers age they deepen in colour to a pinky red in the centre with rich orange "pins".

February Wedding by Swallows Nest Farm

This February bride's bouquet uses Pink Ice Proteas,  Fountain Pincushions, Brunia Albiflora and rich pink Kangaroo Paw called Bush Pearl.  

Peachy February Bouquet by Swallows Nest Farm

This peachy bouquet from February uses the same main flowers - Protea Pink Ice and Fountain Pincushions, but in a different style.  I grouped the Pincushions together for that intense peachy colouring to be the main focus.

Peachy February Bouquet by Swallows Nest Farm

The foliage used is a gorgeous eucalyptus called E. Crenulata.  It has lovely blue green foliage with a purple tinge to the tips.  Its the details that make a great bouquet, and in these I used blackberries. Blackberries are a great colour in February before they start to ripen, and they are the epitome of "local" and "seasonal" in late summer in Tasmania.

Leucadendron Silver Tree

Also available in February is Leucadendron Argenteum, called Silver Tree.  It has the most shimmering, silvery texture to the leaves and it just perfect in bouquets.  

Brunia Albiflora

Brunia Albiflora is available in large quantities in February.  It has a lovely textural effect in bouquets with its glowing balls in neutral tones.  Great in silvery, leafy designs but equally brilliant in colourful bouquets where it adds textural depth.

Protea Varieties Clockwise from top left:  Protea Pink Cream,  Protea White Ice,  Protea Compacta Red

At Swallows Nest Farm, we grow a range of protea varieties, many of which flower in late summer and autumn.  The Protea Compacta are a rich pink, with warm red centres.  The Protea White Ice are a creamy protea with a blush centre.

Cascading Bouquet from a February Wedding

In this cascading bouquet from a February wedding, you can see both Protea Compacta Red and Protea White Ice used.  Brunia Albiflora also features, with some hot pink flowering gum, Banksia Marginata, and Protea Pink Ice.

Protea Pink Cream 

Protea Pink Cream are a soft pink protea with a central mass that is creamy and pointed. They are available in late autumn and winter in larger quantities but will sometimes begin flowering in February.

Clockwise from left:  Wattle, Corymbia Ficifolia in soft pink, Eucalyptus Crenulata

Beautiful Eucalyptus Crenulata foliage, soft pink flowering gum (Corymbia ficifolia) and flowering wattle - beautiful Australian pastels all available in February.

Corymbia Ficifolia - flowering gum in hot pink

 Corymbia Ficifolia is the botanical name for what is commonly called flowering gum or Red Flowering Gum.  It has been reclassified and is no longer part of the Eucalyptus family.  Despite its name, it flowers in a range of colours from white through a the shades of pink and orange and red.  It is a stunning colour and texture flower for use in February.

Floral Hair Comb from a February wedding

Corymbia Ficifolia features in this floral comb for a February bride.  I used some flowering tea tree, wax flower and a gorgeous soft shade of pink flowering gum.  Simple and stunning

Colourful February Bouquet

This colourful bouquet from a February wedding used 3 different shades of pink flowering gum as the main flower.  Also in this bouquet is a Protea Pink Cream, a Pincushion Fountain some yellow Leucadendron Pisa with its silvery white central cone,  and some olive green Pittosporum berries.  Branches of flowering wattle are also used.

February Leuacdendrons - L. Maui Sunset left, L. Pisa right

Leucadendrons available in February include Leucadendron Pisa, a leuco which flowers yellow in spring.  Its central cone then grows and swells, becoming a beautiful silvery white centre, often with a purple blush.  The outer bracts turn from yellow to a yellowy lime in February.  They look great in bouquets and boutonnieres too.  Maui Sunset is a more sage coloured leuco with a pink tinge to the tips.  

Banksia Baxteri

Beautiful Banksia Baxteri is available in February.  It is a summer flowering banksia with a creamy lemon colouring with silvery highlights.  It is commonly called the Birdsnest Banksia due to it's shape.  The leaves of Banksia Baxteri are wonderful too, with a striking zig zag shape.

February Bouquet in rich colours

This February bouquet used Banksia Baxteri as its main flower.  Richly colour Banksia Occidentalis also feature, and you can see Brunia Albiflora too.  I loved using a beautiful native Coral Fern here too.  The fronds soften the edge of the bouquet.

It can be tricky to predict what will flower when, especially when you factor in the weather. Because February marks the end of summer and beginning of autumn, it can be more difficult to predict but on the whole, the flowers pictured here are end of summer blooms.  If you have any queries about February flowers,  just contact Grace via the blogger contact form on the right side-bar.