American dream blooms at Resendiz Brothers Protea Growers
Bringing his American dream to fruition wasn't easy, but it has been fulfilling for the passionate protea grower. At age 18, in the 1970s, Mel moved to the United States and began working on a San Diego County flower farm, site of the county's first commercial protea nursery. In 1995, he purchased his first piece of land: 10 acres in the hills of Rainbow, in the northern part of the county. He named the parcel "Rainbow Crest" and quickly filled it with protea plants. The next year, Mel planted himself in the United States permanently, becoming a naturalized citizen. In 1999, Resendiz Brothers Protea Growers was formed, and Mel's passion for flowers and plants has continued to grow.