SMHS Advanced Floral Design Students take part in Ocean Breeze Farms during their first Halloween Festival

Miriam Jimenez Cuevas and Edid Guzman. Courtesy photo,

SANTA MARIA — What better way to spend the day than playing with flowers!

This past Saturday, four Santa Maria High School Advanced Floral Design students, along with their teachers, Amanda Rodriguez, Sara Araujo and Kristie Van Horn, made free flower arrangements for anyone who purchased flowers from Ocean Breeze Farms during their first Halloween Festival.

The students arrived in Arroyo Grande at 8:30 a.m. and were working nonstop until after the festival ended. They made more than 100 hand tied bouquets using Gerbera daisies, sunflowers, lilies, statice and different eucalyptus greenery, all of which are grown by Ocean Breeze Farms at their Carpenteria and Arroyo Grande nurseries.

Destiny Garcia and Stacy Guzman.

“What I really enjoyed was making the flower arrangements for the people and kids,” said Senior Stacy Gomez. “It made me happy when they said they liked the arrangements.’’

Araujo, who teaches floral design, set up this activity with the growers of the nursery. “Once they asked me if we could have students come and make flower arrangements, I knew it was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up,’’ Araujo added. “It was amazing to see our students working so hard and to see their work appreciated.”

Destiny Garcia, SMHS Senior said, “Saturday was a day to remember! Friends and I working together to show our creative side. It was an endearing experience, and I am grateful to have gone through with it.”

Ocean Breeze Farms sells their product to the public every Saturday from 9am to 1pm in Arroyo Grande.