'Black and Green Kangeroo Paw'

Making another appearance as an eye-catching flower — and, just in time for Halloween — is one of the SAF 2007 Outstanding Varieties winners, 'Black and Green Kangaroo Paw' Anigozanthos, which appeared recently in a Chicago Tribune blog.

The Best in Class — Other Cut Flower winner produced by Resendiz Brothers Protea Growers in Fallbrook, Calif., received a lot of attention from competition judges — some whom even thought it rivaled the 'Kelly' spray roses for "Best In Show" honors. Judge Tim Farrell, AAF, AIFD, PFCI, of Farrell's Florist in Drexel Hill, Pa., says the 'Black and Green Kangaroo Paw' would be "an excellent accent in Halloween arrangements ... [it] was the most unique entry in the entire show."

And proof of what Farrell exclaimed last month pops up in the video clip which featured local florist, Kelly Uss, owner of Fleur, providing Tribune shopping advice columnist, Ellen Warren, as well as viewers, a few decorating ideas and floral care and handling tips. Uss introduces the festive kangaroo paw and says: "These I absolutely love! These are crazy looking ... [They're] really holiday appropriate!"

Uss also provided an example for consumers on how they could display these unusual flowers in their home. "Some people might be intimidated by seeing something like that at first, but really, when you put one or two stems in a bud vase, its really going to make an impact and it'll become a conversation topic," she says.

This minimalist technique, and green color trend, also was exemplified in the 2007 SAF Palm Springs education session on The American Floral Trends Forecast, 2008-2009. Read more about this topic in the Hands On section of Floral Management's November issue.

--Cassandra P. Foster
cfoster@safnow.org

 

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