Stock Flowers Right in the Fields of California

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Do you know that Stock is the name of an amazing flower? If you have read my blogs in the past, you may have seen it mentioned a time or two.  We use it all the time in our daily designs as well as our event and wedding work.

Today we had the pleasure of being shown around Ocean View Farms in Lompac, Ca.  by Dan Vordale, Vice President of Sales and Marketing. Dan was kind of enough to take time out of his day to show us around the farms!  I wanted to share some photos of the stock fields. Because I'm on vacation (I'm told I should do something other than talk or write about flowers) I'll be sure to  write a  more complete blog of what Kevin and I saw and learned at this amazing California Flower Farm but for now, I'll show you the Stock Farms!!
What an amazing sight to see, rows and rows of this fragrant flower blowing in the breeze! Dan told us that although white is the best seller, all shades of purple are next in demand. 
Dan explains to Kevin how the stock are planted, cared for and then harvested!
An up close view of this amazing flower - love those little wrinkled petals and yes, they are supposed to look that way. Every now and again a recipient will call and ask if there is something wrong with the flowers they received but no, that is the beauty of the flower, even when it growing out in the fields. You don't get any more fresh than that! 
Dan explains how the flowers are harvested by driving a truck right out over the field in one of these!! 
The flowers are picked by hand then graded, cut and put into buckets of water while still in the field. Ocean View believes this is the best way to handle the flowers - only once!! 
Kevin and I had a great morning at Ocean View Farms. If you are every lucky enough to get some of these beautiful blooms from our store, they may very well have been grown at this amazing California Cut Flower Farm - Ocean View!

To see more photos of our designs using Stock, be sure to check out the galleries on our Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/localflorist or on our regular website at www.sendingsmiles.com 
Location: 1105 Union Sugar Ave, Lompoc, CA 93436, USA

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