Local flower nursery loses flowers during haboob

The effects from Thursday's haboob are still being felt across the valley. One local flower nursery lost several flowers during the powerful blows.

Rochelle Bang owns Blossom Nursery. She sells fresh-cut flowers at the local farmer's markets across the valley. But Thursday's haboob sent powerful blows to her flower farm. 

"First off, that came on really fast and furious. We were certainly not anticipating it," said Bang. "That was a little bit of a tough one for us. So today, you're seeing more of our roses and some of our asters, as opposed to some of our sunflowers because we did lose some."

Sunday's market flowers were not what was originally planned. She said they lost about $150 worth of flowers.

On Sundays, Blossom sets up shop at three different farmers' markets across the valley. Their market in Indio sold out of flowers much quicker than usual.

"We're coming into our fall crop. So for us to lose some of our red and plum and things like that, it's a little tough, but we're going to be okay," said Bang.

Hours before the haboob hit, many of their market flowers were cut and prepped, so the loss could've been much worse. 

She plans to better prepare for the next time there happens to be a haboob or powerful winds.

"We could certainly reinforce some of our flowers a little bit more against that," said Bang. "Our sunflowers, we grow them really closely together. And that helps us if we hit wind or anything along those lines."

Each sunflower takes nearly two months to grow so recovery will come slowly but surely. 

"So long as everyone keeps supporting us and the rest of our flowers, we're gonna be okay," said Bang.