Calendar
2015
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August 17-19: IPA, Perth, Pre-Conference Tour
August 20-24: IPA
(International Protea Association) Conference in Perth, Australia
Sept 11, 12, 13:
Del Mar Fall Garden Show
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In August our President, Mel Resendiz, will represent the CPA at the IPA Conference in Perth. He will report to the rest of the world what is happening in our world. Below is a snapshot of his report. Click the link at the end to see the full report, which includes other links to a wealth of information.
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Area Report
USA - California
Number of Farmers:During the last three years California has seen a steady increase in the new farmers in the state primarily due to the increased awareness of and demand for Proteaceae in the USA and Canada. In addition, we are seeing some of the original farmers being replaced by second generation family members or new farmers entering the industry. We estimate there are approximately 250 - 275 protea farmers statewide with 5% of the farms producing 85% of the volume. Membership in the CPA has remained fairly stable over the last five years ranging between 40 - 50 members. Growing Region - Soil - ClimateIn California 75% of the farms are located in Northern San Diego County growing in decomposed granite soils on warm steep slopes. Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties have established farms that account for approximately 15% of the production in shale and sandy soils on warm hillsides. Farms in the Monterey and Santa Cruz areas account for the remaining 10% of the state's production ... read more___________________
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Del Mar Fall Garden Show
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While we have been exhibiting successfully at the spring show for many years, this is the first time in nearly a decade the CPA will be exhibiting at the
fall show. Once again we hope you will come out and join us.
Del Mar Fairgrounds
Sept 11, 12, 13
We need your help at the booth and appreciate any 1-gal. protea plant donations you can contribute. Please call Events Director Bill Boyett: 760-215-0498
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Hello Members! Hope you are managing to stay cool.
A trimmed-down, printed version of this newsletter was mailed out to our members recently, along with the 2015 Farm and Flower Guide. (By now you should have it.) The Guide features a beautiful King Protea on the cover and a nice ad for the CPA on page 40. Take a look when you have a moment. You will see a beautiful piece about Proteas on page 20 and you may recognize some of our members featured in photos and ads of their own.
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Propagation Party a Big Hit Members brought stem cuttings to share and exchange. What happened next was a great hands-on workshop and a lot of fun.
Mel gave a demonstration and offered a lot of great tips for success. He then continued to supervise and provide support as members jumped in and got their hands dirty.
You can click here to read more about this event and see lots of great photos! _____________________________________________
Avocado Festival
The annual Avocado Festival benefits the community of Fallbrook and the CPA. People come to the Festival, which was held on April 19th this year, from all over the United States and see what a beautiful area of Southern California we live in. It is estimated that on average, 100,000 people visit this one day Festival each year which creates a fantastic opportunity for exposure for the CPA. 
While the Festival celebrates the agricultural heritage of Fallbrook, it also provides the CPA with an opportunity to be out meeting and educating large numbers of visitors on Protea. The weather definitely cooperated and the day was fantastic, being out in the sunshine speaking to people about Protea. It was great to see all the interest in Protea and to be able to offer valuable information on care and propagation to so many interested visitors. We were able to sell many plants and bouquets which raises money for the CPA.
Thank you to everyone who contributed cut stems, plants and your valuable time (planning, set-up of the booth, selling, educating visitors, and at the end of the day, tearing everything down and hauling it off). All your participation and contributions are always greatly appreciated.
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The first phase of the protea garden has been installed at Mira Costa College Oceanside Campus.  Members of the California Protea Association and protea growers, showed their generosity with over 70 plants and $145.00 in seed monies donated to help get the project in the ground. Students and volunteers dug holes and planted the first phase before the semester ended in May. "We were given a very good representation of plant material," said Ben Gill who designed and organized the project. There are Banksia, Protea, Leucadendron and Leucospermum, with many varieties of each. "I think it will give the garden a spectacular spring show of colors, textures and styles with pins and leucadendrons. It will also have a very good representation of other flowers and blooms throughout the year." The project has a new efficient, Netafim drip irrigation system, installed and controlled by the Horticultural department irrigation controller. The compost and mulches were donated by El Corazon Compost Facility in Oceanside. Gill says the garden is not completely finished as of yet. "We still need to get some boulders and stone for the basins; it's a work in progress." The Horticultural Department nursery supervisor, Jason Kubrock, has given some interesting specimens of Aloes and other South African and Australian natives to be included into the garden. "It's going to look really great when it finished" stated Brandon Clarkson one of the student interns on the project. The garden is located in front of the parking lot of the 7000 Horticultural Building on 1 Barnard Drive on the Mira Costa Campus Oceanside, CA.
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