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It’s magical for Ferguson too, who over the last 11 months has built a colorful farm on the half-acre with flowers, including Agrostemma, irises, zinnias, cosmos, roses, sunflowers, sweet peas, French dianthus and ranunculus.

Dianthus, marigold and chocolate lace flowers bloom at Teaquila Farm in Ventura.

The main course was braised beef short ribs nestled on butter bean grits, topped with sorghum-glazed carrots and pine nuts, and garnished with pink dianthus and sea-thrift petals from the White House garden.

Dianthus thrive in a sunny garden with well-drained soil.

All Dianthus produce blooms over a long season.