Stop and smell the protea

Stephani Baxter, left, of the Fallbrook Protea farm and Jean Trygstad clip protea flowers during a free picking event for guests.

Stephani Baxter of the Fallbrook Protea farm selects protea flowers during a spring picking event for invited guests. With protea arrangement sales down due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Stephani and her husband Dave Baxter opened their grove of sugarbushes to selected guests for free picking while practicing social distancing, Saturday, May 2.

Guests at the Fallbrook Protea farm search for their own choice of protea flowers during a free picking event offered by Stephani and Dave Baxter.

Growing on a sloping hill at the Fallbrook Protea farm, a variety of sugar bushes with blooming protea flowers overlooks the Santa Margarita Preserve and De Luz.

Paul Schuman selects an arrangement of protea flowers and filler during a free picking event at Fallbrook Protea.

Anne Klentz shows her selection of protea flowers during a free picking event at Fallbrook Protea.

Karla Standridge and her son Sam, 3, pick protea flowers during a free picking event at Fallbrook Protea.

Protea flowers are in full springtime bloom as guests pick the flowers during a free picking event at the Fallbrook Protea farm.

Marsha Meers surveys the grove of blooming sugar bushes at the Fallbrook Protea farm during a free picking event.