Market in Bloom
Saratoga Farmers Market is bursting with high summer flowers from local growers. This Saturday, July 25, 9 a.m.–1 p.m. at High Rock Park, join us for “Market in Bloom,” a day to honor our flower farmers and showcase the vibrant blooms of late July.
Peak-of-season flowers and produce will abound this weekend! Expect to see stands overflowing with Sunflowers, Zinnias, Cosmos, Queen Anne’s lace, Lavender, Snapdragons, Ageratum, Strawflower, Amaranth, Statice, Nigella, Calendula, Eryngium, Globe Thistle, Echinacea, Yarrow, Bee Balm, Forget-me-Nots, Liatris, and hopefully the first Marigolds and Dahlias. There’s nothing comparable to locally grown flowers! Most of our farmers use natural growing methods to offer toxin-free flowers for your home. And these flowers support our native pollinators – locally grown flowers offer important habitat for bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and predatory wasps (who feed on pest insects on our farms, preventing the need for insecticides!).
Artisans will be bringing flower-themed handcrafted creations, botanical body care, jewelry, and baked goods.
Build-Your-Own Bouquet Bar for just $20. Enjoy complimentary samples of floral-infused beverages and capture the day at the market’s flower-themed photo booth. Children of all ages and abilities can enjoy free flower-inspired activities, while all visitors can explore the fascinating world of pollinators with special guests from Sustainable Saratoga, the Southern Adirondack Beekeepers Association (with an observation hive), and the SoBro Conservancy of Saratoga.
Whether you’re taking home a bouquet, finding a unique botanical gift, or simply soaking in the beauty of the season, Market in Bloom is a delightful way to spend a summer morning.
Admission is free, and everyone is welcome.
Saratoga Farmers’ Market is open Wednesdays, 3–6 PM, and Saturdays, 9 AM–1 PM, at High Rock Park in downtown Saratoga, and on Mondays, 2–5 PM in Clifton Park. Visit saratogafarmersmarket.org for more information and follow the market on Facebook and Instagram.
How to Take Care of Your Farmers’ Market Flowers
By Corinne Hansch of Lovin’ Mama Farm
After choosing your favorite bouquet at the market, gently place it in your bag or carry it home. As soon as you arrive, put the flowers in a jar of water to rehydrate. Unpack your vegetables and fruit—veggies go in plastic bags to keep them fresh in the fridge, while fruit and tomatoes sit out to ripen without bruising.
Once the food is put away, bring your attention back to your bouquet. Choose the appropriate vase depending on the length of the stems, make sure it is sparkling clean, and fill with cold water. A large ceramic pitcher is ideal, but a quart or ½-gallon jar will work just fine. Unwrap any paper and take off the rubber band. Put your vase next to the side of the table, hold your bouquet over the edge of the table, and imagine where you want the flowers to sit in the vase.
Holding the bouquet over the edge of the table allows you to adjust up or down, and chop the stems off at the appropriate level so the flowers sit at the lip of the vase. Use sharp clippers to make a clean cut. Strip any leaves and flowers that may be at the water level (these will rot more quickly and can contaminate your water with bacteria). Carefully drop the bouquet into the vase, and fluff up the flowers, adjusting a stem here or there so every flower is featured and shown off. If the flowers seem too stuffed and bunched, get a second vase or jar and spread the bouquet into two.
Important: Change your water daily and give the stems a small clip to remove any bacteria that may have built up at the stem ends. This can prevent water from going up the stem and cause your flowers to wilt. Pull out and toss the first flowers to wilt and “refluff” your bouquet daily.