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Business & Tech

Summer Blooms at the Farmer's Market

Visit the Agoura Farmers Market for some seasonal, as well as year-round, eye-catching blooms.

The Agoura Farmers Market is still bursting with summer blooms! There are brilliant arrays of yellows, reds, purples, pinks and almost every color imaginable filling the aisles of a local flower grower.

Here's a guide to attractive seasonal and year-round cut flower bouquets.

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The marigolds’ sunny and cheerful appearance more than make up for its not-so-pleasant smell. Some gardeners even refer to its aroma as pungent.

Pungent or not, marigolds which usually come in yellow or orange, are a sight to behold. The globe-shaped blooms are used to make dye, medicine, flavorings and essential oils in southern Asia.

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In Mexico, marigolds play an important role during Days of the Dead ceremonies, as they are formed into wreaths, crosses and garlands, according to Daniel Lopez of Bender Farms.

Aside from marigolds, the Santa Paula-based flower grower also had another attractive seasonal bloom: the dianthus.

It comes in several varieties, but Bender Farms had Sweet William in fuchsia. Other dianthus varieties are carnations and picotees. Common hues range from whites to reds to fuchsias to bi-colors.

From the Greek words for “flower of the gods,” the dianthus is easy to grow and maintain. The sun-loving blooms with notched petals are known for their somewhat spicy fragrance.

Another bloom with a vast array of colors is the gladiola. Native to South Africa and Eurasia, gladiola is from the Latin word “gladius,” meaning sword. Its sharp leaves supposedly represent the gladiators from ancient Rome.

This May to December bloom has a long vase life, making it a popular choice for weddings and other special events, said Lopez.

Year-round blooms

If perennial favorites are what you’re looking for, Bender Farms also had no shortage of gerberas, sunflowers, Queen Anne’s lace and mixed bouquets.

Gerberas were available in at least a dozen attractive colors. Local event and wedding planners reportedly turn to this popular bloom as an alternative for bridal bouquets and table centerpieces.

Sunflowers, a universal favorite, were also in abundance. The heat-dependent blooms are now available year-round thanks to hydroponics, a relatively new slow-release, soil-free watering system.

Another ornamental favorite is Queen Anne’s lace, also known as “wild carrot.” This tiny, white, lacy flower with flat-topped clusters, was presumably named after Queen Anne of England, an expert lace maker. It is commonly used as a decorative filler.

All summer and year-round blooms were retailing from $3 to $5 per bunch.

The Agoura Farmers Market is open from 9 am to 2 pm every Sunday at 5835 Kanan Rd.

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