Hello Friends! 

This weekend I wrapped up July at the California State Fair in Sacramento working along-side the California State Floral Association and taking fair goers back in time by sharing stories about California's flower industry. And it so happens that this weekend, Resendiz Brothers was the featured farm. I was honored and thrilled to be able to share some of our history, our passion for flower farming and lots of the flowers we grow with the people who stopped by the booth. I spent the entire weekend creating bouquets and giving them away to excited contest winners. I had a wonderful time and have some great stories to share with you about the people I met and the new friends I've made. So please stay tuned, we'll share those stories with you in the days ahead.

Speaking of history, July marked our 18th year in business! When I started Resendiz Brothers in 1999 I was nervous, excited and unsure of the future. However, one thing I knew was I loved flower farming, and was passionate about protea.  Yes, my brothers may have thought I was a little crazy to start a business based around these relatively unknown flowers and foliage, but I've always enjoyed a good challenge. The first five years were all about learning sustainable farming and business practices, and how to grow Proteaceae.  Next, came the digital age... better cameras and higher quality pictures, making it much easier to show-off these fabulous flowers. And with the help of Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram, it's become even easier to share our world of flowers.  There's no doubt in my mind that we've come a long way in the last 18 years and proteas continue to gain in popularity.

I'm looking forward to the next 5,10 and even 18 years with enthusiasm and excitement. I still have a lot more to learn about the family of Proteaceae - growing, harvesting, designing as well as discovering some new varieties along the way!

Enjoy the month of August - I'll see you soon!